Mumbai: The rupee strengthened by 15 paise to 59.18 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday on sustained capital inflows amidst a higher opening in the domestic equity markets.
Dealers attributed the rise in domestic currency to sustained selling of the dollar by exporters amidst heavy foreign capital inflows.
Besides, dollar's weakness against other currencies overseas after the European Central Bank unveiled a batch of measures to kick start the stuttering eurozone economy also supported the rupee's rise, they added.
The rupee closed flat at 59.33 against the dollar in lacklustre trade yesterday on alternate bouts of buying and selling as investors awaited for European Central Bank policy decision.
Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex rose 210.51 points, or 0.84 per cent, to trade at 25,230.02 in early trade.
