The Indian rupee gained 13 paise to 73.16 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday tracking positive domestic equities. At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened at 73.20 against the dollar, then inched higher to 73.16, registering a gain of 13 paise over its previous close. On Monday, the rupee had settled at 73.29 against the US dollar.

"Asian currencies have started weaker against the greenback and rising crude prices this Tuesday morning and will weigh on sentiments," Reliance Securities said in a research note. Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, fell 0.05 per cent to 90.47 ahead of a much-anticipated Federal Reserve meeting that could signal a change in the outlook for US monetary policy.