Mumbai:The rupee weakened by 26 paise to 71.45 against dollar in early trade on Monday, on increased demand for greenback from importers amid rising crude prices and foreign fund outflows.At interbank forex exchange, rupee opened lower at 71.38 and weakened further to quote 26 paise lower at 71.45 against dollar.Forex dealers said dollar's gains against some other currencies overseas too weighed on rupee sentiment.However, a positive opening of domestic equity market capped rupee's losses, they said.Brent crude, international oil benchmark, was trading 0.46 per cent higher at $62.99 per dollar, its two-month high.On Friday, rupee had shed 16 paise to end at 71.19 against dollar.