The Indian rupee on Thursday fell to touch a seven-week low of 49.03 against the US currency in early trade on month-end dollar demand from importers amid expectation that the local bourses would open on a weak note.
Forex dealers said hardening of dollar against major Asian currencies also influenced the rupee sentiment.
They said month-end dollar demand from importers, particularly refiners, and expectation that the stock market may open lower in tandem with other Asian bourses, which are down up to 1.75 per cent in morning trade, weighed on the rupee.
At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (forex) market, the domestic currency was quoted 11 paise lower at 49.03 a dollar against its previous close of 48.92.
