The BSE benchmark Sensex today fell by almost 80 points in early trade due to profit-booking after two sessions of gain. The 30-share barometer fell by 79.98 points,or 0.41 per cent,to 19,245.89,led by losses in stocks of banking,power,oil and gas and metal sectors. The index had gained 498.71 points in the previous two sessions. STOCK MARKETS LINKS * BSE Sensex * NSE Nifty * Top Gainers/Top Losers * Top Value * Top Quantity * Best Performing Mutual Funds Similarly,the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty shed 25.10 points,or 0.43 per cent,to 5,824.95. Brokers said besides profit-booking by speculators after recent gains,a weak trend on the other Asian markets with investors sitting on the sidelines as they await the US Federal Reserve's plans for its stimulus programme,mainly influenced the trading sentiment. In the Asian region,Japan's Nikkei Index fell by 0.70 per cent,while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.74 per cent in early trade today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.73 per cent higher yesterday. Indian stocks to watch (Reuters): GLOBAL MARKETS ROUNDUP Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange are 0.08 percent down and the MSCI-Asia Pacific index excluding Japan is 0.54 percent lower. Asian shares slid on Tuesday as investors waited on tenterhooks for news of the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee's plans for its stimulus programme - with the mere suggestion of fine-tuning it enough to unnerve investors. U.S. stocks rose on Monday but ended well off their highs as investors speculated over the Federal Reserve's intentions about its massive stimulus program to aid the economy before a meeting of policymakers that begins on Tuesday. Bharti Airtel hives off data centres,may sell stake. Government set to ease single-brand norms. Maldives' anti-graft panel clears GMR in airport deal. Ford Motors Co looks to ride emerging market mini-SUV boom in India Road building revival offers rare hope for India infrastructure overhaul Mukesh Ambani's port,power firms get ready for big boom. RBI boosts FDI efforts,to notify Press Notes 2 and 3 soon. Indirect tax collection up 3.8 pct in April-May. Tata Coffee Ltd plans 3 billion rupees investment,partly for acquisitions. Sebi may clear Jet-Etihad deal sans open offer.
