Rupee plunges 11 paise to 83.93 against US dollar during early trade

Rupee depreciated 11 paise to 83.93 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday due to rising crude oil prices and negative sentiment in the domestic equity markets amid concerns over escalating tension in the Middle East.

Unabated outflow of foreign funds from capital markets and a strengthening American currency also weighed on the Indian currency, forex traders said.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the local unit opened at 83.91 and lost further ground to touch 83.93 against the greenback, trading 11 paise lower from its previous session's closing level.

On Tuesday, the rupee settled 3 paise lower at 83.82 against the American currency. The forex markets were closed on Wednesday on account of Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, rose 0.10 per cent to 101.53.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed 1.11 per cent to 74.72 in futures trade.

Experts attributed the spike in c