The rupee appreciated marginally by 9 paise to 68.73 againstthe US dollar in opening trade Thursday, driven by weakening of the US dollarvis-a-vis other currencies overseas. Forex traders said the local unit rosetracking gains in other Asian peers. Moreover, selling of the American currencyby exporters also supported the domestic unit.The rupee opened strong at 68.76at the interbank forex market then gained further ground to touch 68.73 perdollar, displaying gains of 9 paise over its last close.On Wednesday, the rupeehad settled at 68.82 against the US dollar.

The dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strengthagainst a basket of six currencies, fell 0.14 per cent to 97.09.Traders saidforeign fund outflows and cautious opening in domestic equities weighed on thelocal unit.Foreign investors sold shares worth Rs 16.97 crore on a net basisWednesday, provisional data showed.The benchmark BSE Sensex was trading 89.84points, or 0.23 per cent down to quote at 39,125.80 while the NSE Nifty wastrading at 11,652.75, down 34.75 points, or 0.30 per cent.

Meanwhile, brent crude, the global benchmark, was trading at63.84 per barrel higher by 0.29 per cent.