Sensex down 104 points in early trade

The BSE benchmark Sensex on Wednesday declined by almost 104 points in early trade, as funds and retail investors booked profits after recent gains amid weakening trend on other Asian bourses.

The 30-share barometer, which had gained nearly 540 points in the previous three sessions, fell by 103.91 points, or 0.59 percent, to 17,493.51 with metal, banking, capital goods, realty and consumer durable sector stocks coming under pressure.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also shed 34.05 points, or 0.63 percent, to 5,324.45.

Brokers said besides profit-booking by participants after three sessions of gains and a weak trend on the Asian bourses in line with overnight weakness on the US market as the prospect of further monetary easing by the Federal Reserve receded, led to the decline in the benchmark Sensex.

Meanwhile, in Asia, Japan's Nikkei down by 1.74 percent in the morning trade, while Hong Kong's financial markets are closed for a public holiday.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.49 percent lower in yesterday's trade.