Mumbai, Oct. 6 -- The Indian rupee declined 4 paise to 96.39 against the US dollar in early trade on Tuesday over a rise in crude oil prices and sustained FII outflows. However, positive sentiments in the domestic equity markets and a weaker dollar index cushioned the local unit against further decline. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 96.29 but fell to 96.39, down 4 paise from its previous close. Local shares were modestly higher in early trade on Tuesday, extending gains from the previous session amid diminished expectations for another Federal Reserve interest-rate hike in October. The benchmark 30-share BSE Sensex was up 300 points, or 0.4 percent, at 72,685 while the NSE Nifty index edged up by 97 points, or 0.4...