The rupee on Thursday continued its winning run for the second day, appreciating nine paise to close at 67.96 on sustained dollar unwinding from banks and exporters.

A spectacular rally in domestic financial markets as well as sluggish greenback overseas supplemented the local currency’s upsurge. However, suspected intervention by the apex bank to prevent the rupee’s surge in the interest of exporters restricted its early solid gains.

The rupee had ended 28 paise higher on Wednesday.