Mumbai, July 3 - The rupee rose by 25 paise to 55.18 against the American currency in early trade today at the Interbank Foreign Exchange on dollar selling by exporters, amid a higher opening in the stock market.

Besides, weakness of dollar against a basket of other Asian currencies overseas also supported the rupee, forex dealers said.

The rupee had gained 18 paise to 55.43 against the dollar in yesterday's trade. Meanwhile, the BSE benchmark index Sensex rose by 88.82 points, or 0.51 per cent, to 17,487.80. PTI