The rupee today strengthened by 34 paise to 61.56 against the dollar in early trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market on selling of the US currency by exporters.
Besides, a strong opening in the domestic equity market, dollar's weakness against other currencies overseas on worse-than-expected US jobs data also supported the rupee, forex dealers said.
The rupee had gained 17 paise to end at this year's best closing level on Friday on dollar selling by exporters and stable capital inflows.
Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex spurted by 264.09 points, or 1.27 per cent, to 21,022.58 in early trade today.
