Sensex down 55 points in early trade on profit-booking

Mumbai: Benchmark BSE Sensex fell nearly 55 points in early trade today due to profit-booking in banking, FMCG, capital goods, oil&gas and healthcare stocks coupled with weak Asian cues.

The 30-share index fell by 54.87 points or 0.20 per cent to 26,659.06. The gauge had gained 45.97 points in the previous session. The NSE Nifty was quoting lower by 25.20 points or 0.30 per cent to 8,154.75.

Equity brokers said apart from trimming of positions in recent gainers by participants at existing levels, weak trend at other Asian markets dampened trading sentiments.

Among other Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei was down 2.29 per cent while Shanghai Composite Index was down 0.22 per cent in morning trade today. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, however, was up 0.03 per cent. The US Dow Jones ended 0.01 per cent higher in yesterday’s trade.

PTI