The rupee breached the key 45.90-dollar barrier and slumped to a nine-week low of Rs 45.9250/9350 per dollar at the close of trade on Tuesday, dragged down by customary month-end dollar demand amidst fears of a slowdown in foreign fund inflows.

Losing yet another 4-1/2 paise from Monday's finish of Rs 45.88/89, the rupee came under renewed pressure, as the usual month-end considerations emerged to compound the domestic currency's woes ahead of the Eid-Ul-Fitr holiday on Wednesday, dealers said.

The rupee declined by 13 paise on Monday and by over 65 paise since November 10, pulled down by persistent hectic all-round dollar demand in the face of dwindling dollar supplies.

In moderately active but slightly nervous trade at the Interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened on a weak note at Rs 45.90/91 per dollar and dipped to intraday lows of Rs 45.95/97, before settling at Rs 45.9250/9350.

Sustained dollar demand from corporates and importers amidst apprehensions of an acute cash dollar shortage drove the rupee to multi-week lows.

Customary month-end dollar demand further weakened the rupee, already reeling under tremendous pressure, even as foreign fund inflows have slowed down with the approach of the year-end, dealers said.

Foreign fund inflows were the main driving force behind the rupee's sharp appreciation of over six per cent in the current calendar year, before the recent decline.