The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex on Thursday fell by over 184 points as funds and retail investors preferred to book profits amid weak Asian markets.
Fears of rise in inflation, the weekly data for which to be released later today, also cast its shadow on the trading sentiments.
The Sensex, which had gained 507.19 points in Wednesday’s trade, slipped by 184.08 points to 15,728.05 in opening trade.
The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also drifted by 52.15 points to 4,658.65.
Brokers said fresh spell of profit-taking by funds and general investors after yesterday’s handsome gains, and losses in other Asian markets dampened the trading sentiments here.
Stocks of metals, banking, auto, oil and gas, realty and FMCG sectors, which had recorded handsome in yesterday’s trade, succumbed to profit-booking.
Among metal stocks, Sterlite Industries fell by 0.14 per cent to Rs 769, Tata Steel by 0.23 per cent to Rs 468.25 and Hindalco by 1.34 per cent to Rs 117.55.
Other major losers, which also dragged the Sensex down, were Reliance Industries by 01.86 per cent to Rs 1,885, Infosys Technologies by 1.32 per cent to Rs 2,210, State Bank of India by 0.94 per cent to Rs 2,143 and DLF Ltd by 1.81 per cent to Rs 358.50.
Japan’s Nikkie-225 index opened down 0.41 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 0.67 per cent in the early trade on Thursday.
