The rupee declined 41 paise to 75.19 against the US dollar in opening trade on Thursday, tracking the strength of the American currency after the hawkish US Fed policy stance. Forex traders said muted domestic equities, sustained foreign fund outflows, and firm crude oil prices also weighed on the local unit.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened weak at 75.18 against the US dollar, then fell further to 75.19, registering a decline of 41 paise from the last close. On Tuesday, the rupee settled at 74.78 against the US dollar.

On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share Sensex was trading 323.98 points or 0.55 percent lower at 59,507.20, while the broader NSE Nifty declined 258.55 points or 1.5 percent to 17,019.40.