Domestic investors seem to be cautious ahead of the RBI's bi-monthly monetary policy meet today, with the market benchmark Sensex falling over 55 points and NSE Nifty cracking below the 8,700-mark in early trade.
The 30-share index, which had gained 485.06 points in the previous three sessions, was trading 55.20 points or 0.20 per cent lower at 28,127.37 with FMCG, teck, IT, realty and capital goods stocks leading the fall on profit-booking.
The NSE Nifty slipped below the 8,700-mark by falling 19.45 points or 0.22 per cent at 8,691.90.
Sentiment was influenced by a mixed trend at other Asian markets following overnight losses in the US markets, trimming of positions by participants, brokers said.
Besides, a caution prevailed among participants ahead of RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan's last monetary policy meet, they added.
Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 0.16 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei moved up 0.11 per cent in early trade today. Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.14 per cent.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.08 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.
