Rupee down 19 paise against dollar in early trade

The rupee depreciated by 19 paise to 61.54 against the US currency in early trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange on Thursday due to the dollar's gain against other currencies overseas.

Forex dealers said besides the dollar surging to a three-week high versus the yen after the US Federal Reserve ended its massive quantitative easing programme, fresh demand for the American unit from importers put pressure on the rupee.

The domestic currency had dipped three paise to end at over one-week low of 61.35 against the Greenback on Wednesday on dollar demand from importers.