In the overseas forex markets, however, the dollar was weak.
The rupee resumed lower at 54.30 a dollar as against the Tuesday's closing level of 54.01 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market.
The local currency hovered in a range of 54.24 and 54.42 per dollar before quoting at 54.29 at 1040hrs.
The BSE 30-stock index, Sensex, was down 97 points or 0.53 per cent at 18,398.79 at 1050hrs from Tuesday's close.
In New York, the dollar slipped against the euro and other major currencies yesterday after the US economic data boosted equities.
