The rupee opened on a weak note and declined by 19 paise to 69.45 against the US dollar in opening trade on Thursday, ahead of the RBI’s monetary policy decision.

Forex traders said, foreign fund outflows and rising crude oil prices also kept pressure on the Indian rupee.The RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee is slated to announce its bi-monthly policy decision later in the day.

The rupee opened weak at 69.41 at the interbank forex market and then fell further to 69.45, down 19 paise over its last close.

Indian bonds and Forex markets were closed Wednesday on account of Id-Ul-Fitr.Forex traders said a cautious opening in domestic equities weighed on the local unit.Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.25 per cent to USD 60.78 per barrel.