Mumbai, Jan 8: The BSE benchmark Sensex today declined by nearly 25 points in early trade as funds and retail investors booked profits after recent gains amid a weak trend in global markets.
The 30-share barometer, which had lost 92.66 points yesterday, fell by 24.65 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 19,666.77.
Stocks of realty, capital goods, FMCG, consumer durables and banking sectors declined due to profit-booking.
Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty fell by 4.95 points, or 0.08 per cent, to 5,983.45.
Brokers said apart from profit-booking by speculators, a weak trend in Asian trade following overnight losses on the US market and in Europe, spurring selling, dampened the trading sentiment here.
Besides, a cautious approach adopted by participants before the beginning of the earning season which is expected later this week, also cast shadow on the sentiment, they said.
In the Asian region, Japan's Nikkei Index was down 0.38 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.40 per cent in early trade.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.38 per cent down in yesterday's trade.
