Sensex down 157 points in early trade on profit-taking;

The BSE benchmark index Sensex today fell nearly 157 points in early trade on profit-booking by funds and retail investors after recent gains amid a mixed trend in the Asian region.

The 30-share index fell by 156.98 points, or 0.79 %, to 19,840.11 in early trade with shares of Infosys, Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank leading the fall. Sensex had rallied over 1,757 points in the previous four sessions.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty declined by 42.85 points, or 0.73 %, to 5,853.90.

Brokers said emergence of profit-booking by funds as well as retail investors at prevailing higher levels amid a mixed trend in Asian region mainly attributed fall in stock prices.

In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell by 0.38 %, while Japan's Nikkei Index was up by 0.62 % in early trade.

 anand

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