Sensex down 27 points in early trade on profit-booking

The benchmark BSE Sensex fell over 27 points in early trade today as funds and retail investors indulged in booking profits at prevailing levels amid forecast of below normal monsoon this year.

The 30-share barometer declined by 27.44 points, or 0.12%, to 22,660.63. The index had lost 188.47 points on Friday. Stocks of auto, PSUs, banking, FMCG and power sectors were the major losers. Similarly, the NSE Nifty also fell by 15.35 points, or 0.23 per, to 6,767.40. Brokers said selling, mostly of a profit-booking nature, by participants at current levels amid forecast of below normal monsoon this year, mainly influenced the trading sentiments here.

They said, a weak trend on other Asian bourses on concerns about Ukraine tensions, too triggered selling. Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was down 1.15%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.46% in early trade today.