Sensex down 48 points in early trade on profit-booking

The BSE benchmark Sensex today fell by over 48 points in early trade as funds and retail investors booked profits after recent gains, amid a mixed trend on other Asian bourses.
The 30-share barometer declined by 48.08 points, or 0.24 per cent, to 19,529.31. The index had gained 1,025.27 points in the previous three sessions.
Stocks of metals, FMCG, auto, consumer durables, capital goods and banking sectors were the major losers due to profit- booking.
Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index, Nifty, fell by 18.90 points, or 0.32 per cent, to 5,879.95.
Brokers said selling, mostly for profit-booking, by funds and retail investors after three sessions of strong gains amid a mixed trend on other Asian bourses, mainly influenced the trading sentiment.

In the Asian region, Japan's Nikkei Index rose 0.83 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.68 per cent in early trade today.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.44 per cent higher yesterday.