Mumbai: The
BSE benchmark index, Sensex, declined by nearly 70 points in early trade as funds and retail investors booked profits after Thursday's gains.
The 30-share index, which had gained 274.20 points on Thursday, fell by 69.50 points or 0.43 percent, to 16,152.80, with stocks of metals, oil and gas banking sectors succumbing to profit-booking.
Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index, Nifty, shed 18.60 points or 0.38 percent, to 4,902.80.
Brokers said profit-booking by speculators after Thursday's gains mainly led to the fall in stock prices.
They said weakness in Asian bourses after initial gains also impacted the sentiments here.
In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 0.35 percent, while Japan's Nikkei Index surrendered initial gains to trade flat. The U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.27 percent higher yesterday.
