The rupee resumed marginally higher at 54.14 per dollar as against the last closing level of 54.16 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market on selling of dollars by exporters in view of persistent capital inflows.
However, it fell to maintain the lead and was quoted lower to 54.26 per dollar at 1040 hrs on sudden bouts of the US currency demand from importers amid firming crude oil prices.
It moved in a range of 54.28 and 54.14 per dollar during the morning deals.
Meanwhile, the crude oil was trading higher in Asian trade.
The Indian benchmark BSE-30 share index, Sensex, eased by 13.81 points, or 0.07 per cent, quoting 19,976.37 at 1040 hours.