Sensex down 45 points in early trade; metal stocks bleed as coal hearing awaited

Retreating from record highs, the benchmark BSE Sensex fell over 45 points in early trade today with metal, consumer durables, banking and realty sector stocks leading the decline as participants locked in gains at current levels.

The 30-share barometer fell by 45.92, or 0.17 per cent, to 27,273.93. Yesterday, the gauge closed at a fresh life-time peak of 27,319.85 after climbing to a new intra-day record of 27,354.99. The National Stock Exchange index Nifty also slipped from record highs and shed 15.10 points, or 0.18 per cent, to 8,158.80. It closed at an all-time high of 8,173.90 after recording a new intra-day peak of 8,180.20 in yesterday's trade.

Brokers said sentiments turned weak on profit-booking by cautious investors ahead of the hearing of coal blocks allocation case in the Supreme Court today. In the metal segment, shares of Sesa Sterlite were trading 0.69 per cent down at Rs 281.85, while Tata Steel shed 0.58 per cent, to Rs 514. Jindal Steel and Power fell 1.93 per cent to Rs 233.45. Hindalco Industries too faced some pressure and fell by 0.92 per cent to Rs 172.

The big gainers were Ultratech Cement, Bharti Airtel, Cipla, Cairn India and Coal India.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei moved up 0.58 per cent in early trade, while Hong Kong market is closed today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.15 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.