The Indian rupee on Friday appreciated by 18 paise to 48.52 against the US currency in early trade on fresh dollar sales by exporters amid a slide in the American currency against major world currencies.

In quiet trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (forex) market, the domestic currency resumed steady at 48.68/70 a dollar and later firmed up to 48.52 level before being quoted at 48.63/64 a dollar in late morning trade.