The Indian rupee surged by 16 paise to Rs 44.88 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange in early trade on Thursday,boosted by dollar weakness against other Asian currencies and a higher opening in the stock market. The rupee had gained 5 paise to close at Rs 45.04/05 in the previous session on sustained dollar-selling by exporters and banks. Forex dealers said dollar weakness against other Asian currencies and the euro,in addition to a higher opening in the stock market,supported the rupee gains. Meanwhile,the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex rose by 81.71 points,or 0.40 per cent,to 20,337.74 in opening trade on Thursday.
