Sensex down 221 pts in early trade on rupee woes

The BSE benchmark Sensex today tanked over 221 points in the early trade on fresh selling after three sessions of gains as rupee again breached 65-mark amid a weakening trend overseas.
The 30-share index lost 221.29 points, or 1.19 per cent, to trade at 18,336.84 with banking, realty, metal PSUs and oil and gas sector stocks leading the fall. Sensex had gained over 652 points in the previous three sessions.
Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty declined by 80.95 points, or 1.48 per cent, to 5,395.55.
Brokers said sentiments turned weak on emergence of selling after the rupee again breached 65-level by falling 104 paise to Rs 65.34 against the dollar and a weakening trend on the other Asian bourses, tracking losses in US markets.

In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down 0.24 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei Index shed 0.62 per cent in the morning trade today.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.43 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.