<p>The rupee gained 13 paise to 81.82 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday, boosted by foreign fund inflows.</p>.<p>At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened at 81.93 against the dollar, then climbed to 81.82, registering a rise of 13 paise over its previous close.</p>.<p>On Wednesday, the rupee closed at 81.95 against the US currency.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, fell 0.02 per cent to 105.63.</p>.<p>Overall, higher US bond yields and risk-off-tilted equity sentiment are making a base case for the stronger USD, CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari said, adding that FDI and FPIs have acted as life support for the rupee.</p>.<p>"In March, they (FPIs) are net investors with more than Rs 10,000 crore in equities... we could see rupee trading in the range of 81.50 to 82.50 over the short-term," Pabari said.</p>.<p>Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net buyers in the capital market on Wednesday as they purchased shares worth Rs 3,671.56 crore, according to exchange data.</p>.<p>Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, advanced 0.02 per cent to $82.66 per barrel on Thursday.</p>.<p>In the domestic equity market on Thursday, the 30-share BSE Sensex fell 131.61 points or 0.22 per cent to 60,216.48 points. The broader NSE Nifty declined 33.30 points or 0.19 per cent to 17,721.10 points.</p>
<p>The rupee gained 13 paise to 81.82 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday, boosted by foreign fund inflows.</p>.<p>At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened at 81.93 against the dollar, then climbed to 81.82, registering a rise of 13 paise over its previous close.</p>.<p>On Wednesday, the rupee closed at 81.95 against the US currency.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, fell 0.02 per cent to 105.63.</p>.<p>Overall, higher US bond yields and risk-off-tilted equity sentiment are making a base case for the stronger USD, CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari said, adding that FDI and FPIs have acted as life support for the rupee.</p>.<p>"In March, they (FPIs) are net investors with more than Rs 10,000 crore in equities... we could see rupee trading in the range of 81.50 to 82.50 over the short-term," Pabari said.</p>.<p>Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net buyers in the capital market on Wednesday as they purchased shares worth Rs 3,671.56 crore, according to exchange data.</p>.<p>Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, advanced 0.02 per cent to $82.66 per barrel on Thursday.</p>.<p>In the domestic equity market on Thursday, the 30-share BSE Sensex fell 131.61 points or 0.22 per cent to 60,216.48 points. The broader NSE Nifty declined 33.30 points or 0.19 per cent to 17,721.10 points.</p>