The BSE benchmark index Sensex on Thursday declined by almost 185 points in early trade, as funds and retail investors booked profits after recent gains amid weakening trend on other Asian bourses.
The 30-share index, which has gained nearly 307 points in the previous two sessions, fell by 184.83 points, or 1.04 per cent, to 17,567.85 with realty, capital goods and banking sector stocks coming under pressure.
In a similar fashion, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty shed 59.15 points, or 1.10 per cent, to 5,326.05.
Brokers said besides profit-booking by participants after two sessions of gains and a weak trend on the Asian bourses, offloading of positions by retail investors and funds to raise money to subscribe share sale in ONGC by the government through an auction, led to the decline in the benchmark Sensex.
Bucking the trend, stocks of ONGC rose by 0.44 per cent to Rs. 294.65.
In the Asian region, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell by 0.56 per cent.
The U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.41 per cent lower on Wednesday.
