Mumbai
The rupee on Thursday depreciated by 24 paise to 70.63 in early trade on the forex market amid strengthening American currency and weak opening in domestic equities.

Forex traders said strength in the US dollar against some currencies overseas weighed on the local unit.However, fresh foreign fund inflows and easing crude prices capped the losses for the domestic unit.

At the Interbank Foreign Exchange, the rupee opened on a weak note at 70.63 against the US dollar, showing a decline of 24 paise over its previous closing.
On Wednesday, the rupee had settled 5 paise higher at 70.39 against the US dollar.

Foreign funds bought shares worth Rs 1,209.21 crore from the capital markets on a net basis on Wednesday, while domestic institutional investors sold shares worth Rs 481.46 crore, provisional data showed.The global benchmark, Brent crude, was trading at USD 56.49 per barrel, lower by 1.31 per cent.