Sensex down 76 pts on profit booking

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today fell by over 76 points in early trade as funds and retail investors sold stocks to book profits after two-session strong rally.

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex on Friday fell by over 76 points in early trade as funds and retail investors sold stocks to book profits after two-session strong rally.

HT Image

The 30-share index fell by 76.18 points, or 0.41 per cent, to 18.378.76 points in the first five minutes of trade. The barometer had gained over 405 points in the previous two sessions.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also declined by 24.70 points, or 0.35 per cent, to 5,515.50 points.

Brokers said profit-booking by investors after strong gains in previous two sessions pulled the Sensex down.

Weak cues from Asian markets also dampened the sentiment, they added.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was down 0.69 per cent, while Japanese Nikkei index fell by 1.39 per cent in morning trade. The US Dow Jones Industrial average ended 1.39 per cent down in Thursday's trade.