The rupee on Tuesday lost 10 paise to 55.67 against the dollar in early trade on the Interbank Foreign Exchange market due to approaching month-end demand of the US currency from banks and importers.

Forex dealers said that dollar strengthening against other currencies in the global market also put pressure on the rupee but sustained rise in domestic equities capped the fall.

The domestic currency had closed higher by six paise at 55.57 on Monday on the back of good inflows in equities and dollar selling by some exporters.