The rupee appreciated 2 paise to 83.84 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday, helped by a weak greenback against major crosses overseas and lower crude oil prices in international markets.

However, a sluggish trend in the domestic equities and fresh foreign fund outflows amid US rate cut expectations restricted the rise in the local unit, forex traders said.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened slightly weak at 83.87 but gained some ground to turn positive at 83.84, registering a rise of 2 paise from its previous close.

On Monday, the local unit settled at 83.86 against the US dollar.

"A decline in crude oil prices, (recent) healthy foreign institutional inflows into Indian equities, and speculation about a possible rate cut by the Federal Reserve have stirred hopes of stability. Moreover, the Reserve Bank of India is poised to step in around the crucial 84-mark, likely deploying its reserves to prevent a further slide in the rupee," said, Amit Pabari, MD, CR Forex Advisors.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, declined 0.05 per cent to 100.38.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, gained 0.45 per cent to USD 73.08 per barrel in futures trade.

In the domestic equity market, the 30-share BSE Sensex fell 59.75 points, or 0.07 per cent, to 82,929.03, while the Nifty slipped 4.85 points, or 0.02 per cent, to 25,378.90.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) turned net sellers in the capital markets on Monday, as they sold shares worth Rs 1,634.98 crore, according to exchange data.

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