Rupee opens lower as crude worries hurt sentiment, bond yields fall

The dollar rose a touch over 0.1 percent to buy 107.70 Japanese yen, with volumes dampened by a public holiday in Japan.

In the commodity markets, oil prices advanced more than 1 percent as tensions in the Middle East supported prices.

International Brent crude futures touched an intraday high of $65.50 a barrel, but eased to $64.97, up 69 cents while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $58.78 a barrel, up 69 cents, after earlier hitting a high of $59.39.

Foreign investors continued with their equity selling spree in the Indian market. They have pulled out a net sum of Rs 4,193 crore from the Indian capital markets so far this month.

In debt markets, the yields on the 10-year government bonds declined 0.11 percent at 6.78 percent from the previous close of 6.79 percent. Bond yields and prices move in opposite directions.