Mumbai, Sept. 21 -- The Indian rupee opened weaker on Monday, with analysts maintaining a cautious near-term outlook and warning that a sustained move above 96 against the US dollar could trigger further depreciation, though the currency has a higher probability of consolidating around 95.20-95.30 in the near term.

The rupee opened at 95.82 against the US dollar on Monday and was trading around 95.78 at 10:34 am, following a volatile previous week in which the currency touched 96.10 on Thursday.

As per currency expert K N Dey, the volatility is expected to continue going forward on account of the continuing Middle East conflict and the hanging sword of US tariffs on India.

"We neither cannot avoid Russian oil nor at the same time affor...