Rupee up 25 paise at 54.67/dollar in early trade

Selling of the US currency by exporters and banks helps rupee

The rupee today rose by 27 paise to 54.67 against the dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market on selling of the US currency by exporters and banks.

Forex dealers said a higher opening in the domestic equity market and strengthening of euro against the dollar overseas ahead of the European Central Bank's monetary policy meeting on Thursday, supported the rupee.

The rupee had lost six paise to close at 54.92 yesterday on late dollar demand from importers.

Meanwhile, the BSE benchmark index Sensex rose by 128.41 points, or 0.67%, to 19,271.58 in early trade today.