Rupee opens 2 paise lower against US dollar

Mumbai, Feb 3 (PTI) The Indian rupee opened 2 paise lowerat Rs 45.64 per US dollar in early trade on the InterbankForeign Exchange today amid demand for the American currencyfrom importers and appreciation of the greenback against othercurrency rivals overseas.

The rupee had strengthened by 13 paise to Rs 45.62/63 perdollar in the previous session.

Forex dealers said gains registered by the dollar againsteuro overseas, in addition to demand from importers, mainlyweighed on the rupee sentiment.

However, a higher opening in the stock market and closureof Asian markets to mark the Lunar New Year restricted therupee losses, they said.

Meanwhile, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensexrose by 57.32 points, or 0.31 per cent, to 18,147.94 inopening trade today.