Rupee gains 15 paise against dollar in early trade

A private money trader counts Indian Rupee currency notes at a shop in Mumbai, in this August 1, 2013 file photo. With only enough cash in the central bank to pay for seven months of imports, $172 billion of debt due in the current fiscal year and weak fund inflows, India's balance of payments position is undermining its ability to defend a tumbling rupee. To match INDIA-ECONOMY/PAYMENTS REUTERS/Vivek Prakash/Files (INDIA - Tags: BUSINESS)

The rupee strengthened by 15 paise to 64.49 per dollar in early trade on selling of the U.S. dollar by banks and exporters.

Stock markets opened on a firm note which supported the rupee in early trade, dealers said.

However, the US dollar’s strength against major global currencies overseas capped the rupee’s gain, they added.

The rupee had closed with gains of 20 paise at 64.64 a dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market on Friday.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex surged by 227.44 points, or 0.75 per cent, to 30,692.36 in early trade.