The rupee fell by 19 paise to Rs 45.40 per US dollar today on renewed demand for the American currency from banks and importers amid strengthening of the dollar in the overseas markets and weakness in the domestic equity market.
Forex dealers said strengthening of the dollar against major currencies overseas and a lower opening in the domestic stock market mainly put pressure on the rupee.
At the Interbank Forex Exchange, the rupee resumed lower at 45.28/29 per dollar against the previous closing level of 45.21/22 per dollar and dropped further to 45.40 at 10.30 a.m. The rupee moved in a range between 45.25 and 45.40 per dollar in the morning deals.
The dollar rose against its European counterpart today, benefiting from persistent worries about Euro Zone debt problems.