Mumbai, India (BBN)-Extending its gains for the seventh day in a row, Indian rupee strengthened by 9 paise to 66.24 against the US dollar in early trade Wednesday at the Inter-bank Foreign Exchange on continued selling of the American currency by exporters and banks amid fresh foreign funds inflows.

Besides selling of the US currency by exporters and banks, a higher opening in domestic stock markets and the dollar’s weakness against some currencies overseas helped, forex dealers said, reports the PTI.

The rupee had gained 2 paise to close at 66.33 against the US dollar in Tuesday’s trade on persistent selling of dollars by banks and exporters on hopes of resumption of foreign capital inflows.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex climbed 209.87 points, or 0.82 per cent, at 25,800.52 in early trade.

BBN/SK/AD