Indian rupee at over 1-week high; stocks open eyed

* Dollar largely steady versus majors; Asian units gain

* 1-month NDFs suggest rupee to strengthen in near term (Updates to early trade)

MUMBAI, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The Indian rupee strengthened to its highest in more than a week on Friday as traders sold dollars on expectations of gains in the local sharemarket and watched the U.S. unit's moves versus majors for direction.

At 9:30 a.m. (0400 GMT), the partially convertible rupee INR=IN was at 46.78/79 per dollar, off an early high of 46.7650, its strongest since Oct. 27 and half a percent above its previous close of 47.0150/0250.

"Stocks are up globally, which is supporting sentiment for the rupee as well," a senior dealer at a private bank said, predicting a range of 46.70-46.90 for the day.

At 0400 GMT, the MSCI index .MIAPJ0000PUS of Asian stocks ex-Japan was 1.7 percent higher, while the Nifty India stock futures SINc1 traded in Singapore were up 0.9 percent.

Local shares .BSESN are set to open higher, mirroring the rise in world equities after better-than-expected U.S. jobs data bolstered investor confidence in the global economy. [.BO]

Foreign funds have so far this year purchased a net $14.2 billion worth of Indian shares, helping the rupee recover from a record low of 52.2 in early March. Last year, they had sold more than a net $13 billion, pushing the rupee down by a fifth.

The dollar held steady on Friday with investors consolidating positions ahead of October non-farm payrolls data due later in the session, a report that would highlight the durability of an economic recovery. [USD/]

One-month offshore non-deliverable forward rupee contracts PNDF were quoting at 46.74/84, marginally stronger than the onshore spot rate, suggesting a bullish outlook in the near term. (Reporting by Swati Bhat; Editing by Ranjit Gangadharan)