Extending its rising streak for the third straight day, the rupee strengthened by 12 paise to 61.83 against the dollar in early trade today at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market on increased selling of the US currency by exporters.The rupee had gained 9 paise to close at one-week high of 61.95 against the dollar yesterday.Forex dealers said, a higher opening in the domestic equity market also helped rupee but dollar's gain against other currencies overseas on the back of upbeat consumer data capped the rupee's rise.