Rupee opens weaker at 44.3750/3850 per US dollar

Mumbai, Mar 8: Rupee today (Mar 8, 2006) opened weaker by two to three paise at 44.3750/3850, as against the last close of 44.35/36, a dealer at the forex market here said.

The rupee weakend further to 44.4050/4150 at 1142 hrs, the dealer added.

The inflow of Rs 247 crore in the stock markets on Monday, as reported by SEBI, is likely to cushion rupee against the dollar.

The stock markets this morning were down by 12 points, trading at 10,722 points, which might keep rupee on the edge.

The crude oil prices softened further at USD 61.47 per barrel in the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) which will strengthen rupee at lower levels.

UNI