Sensex down over 26 points in early trade

The benchmark BSE Sensex on Friday fell by over 26 points in early trade due to profit-booking by funds and speculators after yesterday’s rally amid a weak Asian trend.

The 30-share barometer declined by 26.11 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 20,931.70, with stocks of banking, IT, auto and metals sectors leading the fall.

The index had gained 249.10 points in the previous session.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved down by 8 points, or 0.13 per cent, to 6,233.10.

Brokers said profit-booking by participants after Thursday’s rally and a weak trend in the Asian region, as better-than-forecast U.S. growth data adding to expectations the Federal Reserve will start to wind down its stimulus programme, mainly dampened the trading sentiment here.

In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was down by 0.39 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei shed 0.43 per cent in early trade.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.43 per cent lower on Thursday.