Mumbai, Aug 22: The BSE benchmark Sensex today fell by nearly 85 points in early trade as funds and retail investors booked profits amid a weak trend on other Asian bourses.
The 30-share index, which had gained nearly 229 points in the previous two sessions, fell by 84.97 points, or 0.47 per cent, to 17,800.29, with stocks of realty, power, capital goods and banking leading the fall.
Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty dipped below 5,400 points level by falling 26.20 points, or 0.48 per cent, to 5,394.80.
Brokers said besides profit-booking by speculators after two sessions of gains, a weak trend on other Asian markets after Japan reported that it fell back into a trade deficit last month because of slumping exports, mainly influenced the trading sentiment here.
In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell by 0.79 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei Index shed 0.72 per cent in the morning trade today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.51 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.
