Sensex opens 80 points lower on profit booking

Investors react as they watch the stock prices on a screen at a facade of Bombay Stock Exchange in Mumbai. File photo

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex fell by nearly 80 points in opening trade today due to profit booking by funds amid weak global cues.

The 30-share barometer, which had gained 68.22 points in the previous session, fell by 79.61 points to 18,966.93 points.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index also declined by 24.30 points to 5,687.30 points.

Analysts attributed the decline to profit booking by investors amid a weakening trend in other Asian markets.

Japan’s Nikkei was trading 0.87 per cent lower, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index marginally up by 0.05 per cent in early trade.

In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.02 points lower yesterday.