The rupee weakened by 15 paise to 69.01 against the US dollar on fresh demand for the American currency from importers.

Traders said besides fresh demand for the US currency from importers, dollar’s firmness against some currencies overseas weighed on the domestic unit. However, a strong equity market capped the rupee’s fall.

The local currency had lost 2 paise at 68.86 against the US currency yesterday on stray dollar demand from importers. Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex surged 150.74 points, or 0.41 per cent, to hit an all-time high of 36,869.34 in early trade.