<p>The rupee declined by 22 paise to settle at 71.40 against the US dollar on Friday amid selling in domestic equities and strengthening of the American currency overseas.</p>.<p>Forex traders said the rupee traded weak largely owing to strengthening of the US dollar ahead of the non-farm payrolls number scheduled to be released later in the day.</p>.<p>At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local currency opened on a weak note at 71.26.</p>.<p>During the day, the local unit lost further ground and touched a low of 71.49, before finally settling for the day at 71.40 against the US dollar, down 22 paise over its previous close.</p>.<p>The domestic unit had settled at 71.18 on Thursday.</p>.<p>On a weekly basis, the rupee has lost 8 paise.</p>.<p>"Rupee traded weak on Friday as dollar scaled high towards 71.35, mainly on back of on weakening risk appetite amid a strong greenback ahead of US non-farm payroll data due later today," said Jateen Trivedi, Senior Research Analyst (Commodity & Currency) at LKP Securities.</p>.<p>The dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, rose by 0.09 per cent to 98.58.</p>
<p>The rupee declined by 22 paise to settle at 71.40 against the US dollar on Friday amid selling in domestic equities and strengthening of the American currency overseas.</p>.<p>Forex traders said the rupee traded weak largely owing to strengthening of the US dollar ahead of the non-farm payrolls number scheduled to be released later in the day.</p>.<p>At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local currency opened on a weak note at 71.26.</p>.<p>During the day, the local unit lost further ground and touched a low of 71.49, before finally settling for the day at 71.40 against the US dollar, down 22 paise over its previous close.</p>.<p>The domestic unit had settled at 71.18 on Thursday.</p>.<p>On a weekly basis, the rupee has lost 8 paise.</p>.<p>"Rupee traded weak on Friday as dollar scaled high towards 71.35, mainly on back of on weakening risk appetite amid a strong greenback ahead of US non-farm payroll data due later today," said Jateen Trivedi, Senior Research Analyst (Commodity & Currency) at LKP Securities.</p>.<p>The dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, rose by 0.09 per cent to 98.58.</p>