The rupee fell to as low as 66.49 against the dollar, its weakest level since March last year due to heavy foreign capital outflows. It has fallen 1.5 per cent so far this month.

On a net basis, foreign portfolio investors had sold shares worth Rs 21.02 crore on Friday.

Forex dealers said sustained demand for the American currency from importers and the dollar’s strength against other currencies overseas, bolstered by rising US bond yields, weighed on the domestic unit.

The domestic unit opened weak by 4 paise at 66.16 at the interbank forex market today. It hovered in a range of 66.49 and 66.14 before quoting at 66.47, down 35 paise at 4.50 pm local time.

On Friday, the rupee had crashed below the key 66 level to close at a 13-month low of 66.12 against the US currency, hit by a resurgent dollar, firming crude prices and a more hawkish tone of the Reserve Bank.

Meanwhile, the Sensex ended at an over two-month high of 34,450.77 in a choppy trade on steady buying in realty, healthcare, consumer durables and IT sectors.