Rupee falls by 21 paise to 2-month low against dollar

Mumbai, Jan 31 (PTI) The Indian rupee fell by 21 paise toa two-month low of Rs 45.97 per US dollar in early tradetoday, weighed down by the gains registered by the greenbackagainst other major currencies.

Dealers said the rupee weakness was due to the dollargains against other Asian currencies, coupled with a weakopening in the domestic stock market.

The rupee had depreciated by 19 paise against the UScurrency to close at Rs 45.76/77 in the previous session onFriday amid sluggish domestic equities and fresh dollar demandfrom importers.

Meanwhile, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensexplunged by 301.70 points, or 1.68 per cent, to 18,094.27 inopening trade today.