BSE Sensex losing streak enters sixth session, opens 21 pts down

Sensex down 21 points in early trade

Extending losses for the sixth straight session, the BSE benchmark Sensex today fell over 21 points in early trade due to sustained selling by funds and retail investors amid a weak trend in the Asian region.

The 30-share index, which had lost over 778 points in the previous five sessions, fell by 21.26 points, or 0.11 per cent, to 18,771.61 in early trade, with stocks of IT, realty and oil and gas sectors leading the fall.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty shed 3.55 points, or 0.06 per cent, to 5,655.20.

Brokers said besides a weak trend in the Asian region in line with overnight losses on the US markets, continuing worries over the country's political stability dampened the trading sentiment here.

Meanwhile, in Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index declined by 0.28 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei fell 1.34 per cent.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.62 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.

Stocks to watch-March 22

(Reuters):GLOBAL MARKETS ROUNDUP

Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange fell 0.24 percent, while the MSCI-Asia Pacific index excluding Japan is up 0.06 percent.

Asian shares and the euro were pressured on Friday by fears Cyprus may default on its debt, while deteriorating euro zone economic activity further underscored the troubles ailing the region.

U.S. stocks fell on Thursday as Oracle's revenue fell far short of expectations and worries intensified about the effect of Cyprus' troubles on the euro zone.

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Steel Authority of India Ltd set the floor price for the government's stake sale in the company at 63 rupees per share.

... contd.

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