The Indian rupee weakened further by about ten paisa to 46.60 against the dollar in early trade today amid steady trend in local stocks and higher dollar in overseas markets.
The domestic currency resumed steady at its overnight closing level of 46.50/51 a dollar but later touched a low of 46.60 before being quoted at 46.5750/5850 a dollar in late morning deals.
Dealers at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (forex) market said the rupee turned weaker in lacklustre activity after a 2.0 per cent rise against dollar in the last few days.
The absence of any fresh dollar sales from exporters also affected rupee sentiment.
Indian benchmark Sensex was up 73 points or 0.45 per cent at 1030 hours after trading steady in early trade.
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(Updated at 1037 hrs)
The Indian rupee today depreciated by two paise to 46.52 against the US currency in early trade, extending its previous day's losses, on dollar demand from refiners.
However, dollar's losses against other major currencies, checked rupee's fall.
At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market, the domestic unit traded 2 paise lower at 46.52 a dollar in early trade. Yesterday, the rupee ended five paise lower at 46.50/51 against the US currency after the benchmark Sensex slipped by 58.16 points at 16,440.56.
Dealers said some demand for the US currency from refiners and importers mainly put some pressure on the Indian rupee.