The BSE benchmark Sensex fell over 75 points in early trade today, as funds and retail investors booked profits ahead of the railway budget amid a weak Asian trend.
The 30-share index fell by 75.34 points, or 0.39 per cent, to 19,256.35, with auto, metal and oil and gas sector stocks coming under pressure. The index had gained 14.68 points in the previous session.
Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty shed 28.75 points, or 0.49 per cent, to 5,826.
Brokers said besides profit-booking by participants ahead of the railway budget, a weak trend on Asian bourses mainly influenced the sentiment.
In the Asian region, Japan's Nikkei Index was down 1.83 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.79 per cent in the early trade. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.55 per cent lower yesterday.
