MUMBAI: The benchmark BSE Sensex fell over 302 points in early trade today to slip below the 27,000 level as stocks of banking, realty, healthcare, IT, metal and auto companies succumbed to profit booking by speculators, giving up most of yesterday’s gains amid a mixed trend at other Asian bourses.

The 30-share index slipped below the 27,000 mark by falling 302.48 points, or 1.10 per cent, to 26,948.62. The gauge had gained 373.62 points in the previous session.

In a similar fashion, the NSE index Nifty dipped below the 8,200-mark by losing 98.15 points, or 1.19 per cent, to 8,137.30.

Brokers said profit-booking by participants in stocks that recorded handsome gains in yesterday’s trade and a mixed trend at other Asian markets tracking overnight losses at U.S. markets following a disappointing retail sales report dampened sentiment.

Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong Hang Seng was up 0.19 per cent while Japan’s Nikkie shed 0.55 per cent in early trade today.

The U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.04 per cent lower in yesterday’s trade.

The rupee ticked up 9 paise to 63.91 against the dollar in early trade today at the Interbank Foreign Exchange after the American currency weakened overseas on disappointing retail sales report.

Besides, increased selling of the U.S. dollar by exporters supported the rupee, but a lower opening in the domestic equity market capped the gains, forex dealers said.

The rupee had ended higher by 17 paise at 64 against the greenback in yesterday’s trade due to fag-end selling of dollars by banks and exporters on the back of strong recovery in the equity market.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex fell 302.48 points, or 1.10 per cent, to 26,981.49 in early trade.