Sensex down 145 points in early trade on profit-booking

The BSE benchmark index Sensex today declined by over 145 points in early trade, as funds and retail investors booked profits after recent gains amid mixed trend on other Asian bourses.
The 30-share index, which has gained nearly 703 points in the previous four sessions, fell by 145.82 points, or 0.72 per cent, to 19,221.77 with all the sectoral indices led by consumer durables, banking and realty coming under pressure.
In a similar fashion, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty fell by 53.35 points, or 0.93 per cent, to 5,688.95.
Brokers said besides profit-booking by participants after four sessions of gains and a mixed trend on the Asian bourses in line with overnight losses on the US markets, led to the decline in the benchmark Sensex.

In the Asian region, Japan's Nikkei Index was down by 0.40 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index up by 0.41 per cent in early trade today.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.47 per cent lower yesterday.