The Indian rupee appreciated by 3 paise to 44.48 a dollar in the opening trade today on fresh capital inflows by foreign funds into equities.
The rupee closed lower by 15 paise at 44.51/52 a dollar in the previous session.
Forex dealers said capital inflows into equities by foreign funds and stronger Asian currencies against the dollar, mainly provided support to the rupee.
Meanwhile, the Bombay Stock Exchange index, Sensex, rose by 78.74 points, or 0.45 per cent to 17,464.82 points in the opening trade today.
