In lacklustre trading activity, rupee ruled almost steady against the American currency in the late morning deals at 54.76 per dollar. The rupee resumed a notch higher at 54.76 per dollar as against the last weekend's level of 54.77 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market and hovered in a range of 54.75 per dollar and 54.85 per dollar before quoting at the same opening level of 54.76 per dollar at 10.50 hrs.

Persistent capital inflows from foreign funds into equity market partly affected the rupee sentiment against the dollar, a Forex dealer said.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs. 833.40 crore on last Friday as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.

Sensex eased by 2.16 points, or 0.01%, to 19,442.68 at 1100 hrs.

Asian stocks sat mostly lower in the early trade amid concerns about the US fiscal cliff.