Mumbai: The rupee on Thursday depreciated by 7 paise against the dollar in early trade weighed down by the US currency’s gain overseas.

At the Interbank Foreign Exchange market, the domestic unit was quoted 7 paise lower at 46.23 a dollar. The rupee had settled steady at 46.16/17 a dollar in the previous session.

Dealers said firming dollar against other currencies after stronger-than-expected US employment and service sector data put pressure on the rupee but higher opening on the stock market, capped losses.

Meanwhile, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark index Sensex rose by 65.87 points, or 0.36 per cent, to 18,283.31 points in the opening trade.