Mumbai: Snapping a three-day rising streak, the BSE benchmark index Sensex declined by nearly 52 points in early trade as funds and retail investors preferred to book profits amid a weak trend in Asian markets.

The 30-share index, which gained 140 points in the past three sessions, fell by 51.70 points, or 0.29 percent, to 17,486.97 with stocks of IT, metal and realty sectors leading the fall.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty declined by 15.45 points, or 0.29 percent, to 5,311.85.

Brokers said besides profit-booking by speculators after recent gains and a weak trend on Asian bourses followed by a overnight losses at the US market as central banks' moves in China and Europe to boost growth failed to impress investors, influenced the sentiment here.

In Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index declined by 0.28 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei Index was down by 0.36 per cent in the morning trade today.

The U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.36 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.