Sensex down 43 points in early trade

The 30-share barometer, which had gained over 190 points in the previous two sessions, fell by 43.04 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 16,853.59 with stocks of oil and gas, metal, and banking sectors succumbing to profit-booking.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty declined by 14.10 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 5,106.45.

Brokers said besides booking of profit by participants at prevailing levels, mixed trend on Asian bourses following overnight weakness on the US market despite Federal Reserve extending stimulus measures for six months to boost the flagging economy, influenced the sentiment here.

In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell by 0.25 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei Index edged up by 0.96 per cent. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.10 per cent lower yesterday.