Increased demand for the dollar from importers at current levels also put pressure on the rupee. Dealers attributed the rupee's fall to dollar's gains against major currencies overseas after solid US economic data.

They said, however, a higher opening in the domestic equity market capped the fall. The rupee had lost two paise to close at 61.54 in yesterday's trade against the dollar.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex rose 53.53 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 21,343.02 in early trade today.

PTI