Mumbai: The rupee weakened by nine paise to 61.95 against the dollar in early trade on Monday at the Interbank Foreign Exchange due to high demand for the US currency from importers.

Dealers attributed the domestic currency's fall to increased demand for the American currency from importers and a lower opening in the domestic equity market but the dollar's strength against other currencies overseas, limited the gains.

The rupee had ended steady at 61.86 against the American currency in the previous session on Friday due to mild selling of dollars by banks and exporters.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex fell by 136 points, or 0.47 per cent, at 29,046.95 in early trade today.--PTI