The Indian rupee rose marginally on Thursday helped by dollar sales by exporters, but demand for the U.S. unit from oil companies and losses in the domestic share market prevented stronger gains. The partially convertible rupee closed at 48.77/78 per dollar, 0.1 percent stronger than its previous close of 48.82/83. "Good flows were seen today both ways, but the rupee is still range bound between 48.70-49.20. It has to break out of this range for any further direction," the chief dealer with a state-run bank said. "There was demand from oil companies in the morning which pushed the unit lower, but then exporters came in and sold dollars helping it recover," he added. Dealers said the choppy share market provided few cues on the direction of fund flows. Indian shares .BSESN snapped a two-day rise and fell 1.2 percent on weak global sentiment and lingering economic worries.

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