Sensex, Nifty retreats from record on profit booking

The benchmark BSE Sensex retreated from record levels to trade lower by 56 points in early session today as realty, auto, healthcare and metal stocks fell after participants booked profits.

The 30-share index fell by 56.19 points or 0.17 per cent to 32,577.45 in early trading. It had opened higher at 32,654.41 and advanced to a high of 32,659.32 in opening trade. The gauge garnered 799.65 points in the previous three days to scale all-time high of 32,633.64 after touching intra-day record of 32,687.32 yesterday.

The wider Nifty of NSE too slipped from record by falling 8.80 points or 0.09 per cent to 10,222.05 after touching a high of 10,239.25 at the outset. Fresh weakness in the rupee against the dollar and continued foreign fund outflows dampened the sentiment, brokers said.

Among major Sensex losers, Tata Motors, ONGC, M&M, Infosys, Dr Reddy's, Cipla, HDFC Bank, HDFC Ltd and Tata Steel fell up to 1.11 per cent, dragging the index into the negative terrain. In the Asian region, Japan's Nikkei rose 0.17 per cent, Shanghai Composite Index up 0.06 Per cent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.14 per cent in their early deals.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.37 per cent higher yesterday. 

The IMF chief on Saturday the Indian economy is on a "very solid track" in the mid-term, which triggered all-round buying activity.

With upbeat global cues coupled with most international markets being in a strong uptrend, valuation compared to other emerging peers continues to look expensive, experts said.

(From inputs from PTI)