Rupee falls to 50.03 a dollar in opening trade

Mumbai: The Indian rupee today crossed the crucial 50-mark against the US dollar in opening trade owing to heavy capital outflows by funds on expectation of weak opening of the domestic stock markets.

At the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market, the local currency, which last touched the 50-level on February 18, fell by nine paise to 50.03 against the greenback.

The domestic unit had ended lower by seven paise at 49.94/95 a dollar on Wednesday.

The benchmark Sensex settled higher by over 80 points or 0.91 per cent yesterday, but dealers said expectations of a weak opening of the bourses put pressure on the domestic unit.