The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex fell by over 72 points in choppy early trade on Thursday, snapping the two-session winning streak as investors sold heavy-weight stocks to realise the recent gains.
Mixed trend on other Asian bourses also influenced trading sentiments in Mumbai.
The 30-share index, which had gained over 390 points in the past two sessions, fell by 72.54 points, or 0.43 per cent to 16,356.37 points, after rising to 16,452.51 points at the outset.
The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also shed 22.85 points, or 0.40 per cent to 4,891.15.
Brokers said fresh spell of profit booking by funds as well as retail investors mainly led to the fall in stock prices.
They said, stocks of metal sector, which had been rising in the past few sessions, succumbed to profit-booking.
In the metal segment, Sterlite Industries fell by 1.41 per cent to Rs 777.50, Tata Steel by 1.56 per cent to Rs 575.75 and Hindalco by 0.52 per cent to Rs 152
Other stocks that dragged the Sensex down were Reliance Industries, which fell by 1.03 per cent to Rs 1,021.40, Maruti Suzuki by 1.01 per cent to Rs 1,367, Jaiprakash Associates by 1.08 per cent to Rs 136.85 and State Bank of India by 0.22 per cent to Rs 1,948.40.
{{/usCountry}}Other stocks that dragged the Sensex down were Reliance Industries, which fell by 1.03 per cent to Rs 1,021.40, Maruti Suzuki by 1.01 per cent to Rs 1,367, Jaiprakash Associates by 1.08 per cent to Rs 136.85 and State Bank of India by 0.22 per cent to Rs 1,948.40.
{{/usCountry}}The Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down 0.29 per cent, while Japan's Nikkie was up 0.15 per cent in the morning trade today.