The rupee weakened by 4 paise to 46.39 against the US dollar in early trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange as the dollar firmed up against major world currencies.

Dealers said weakness in other Asian currencies against the dollar and a weak opening on domestic bourses ahead of the Reserve Bank's first-ever mid-quarter monetary policy review later today also put pressure on the Indian rupee.

The rupee had gained 9 paise to close at a one-month high of 46.35/36 against the US dollar in the previous session following a sharp surge in domestic equities and dollar- selling by exporters and banks.