Indian rupee increased in the early trade on January 4 with a 18 Paise higher at 72.94 per dollar against Friday’s close of 73.12 per dollar. On January 1, rupee ended at a day’s low at 73.12 per dollar against Thursday’s close of 73.07. The dollar-rupee January contract on the NSE was at Rs 73.29 in the last session. The open interest was flat in the period of the January series.