Sensex down 43 points in early trade on profit-booking

The BSE benchmark Sensex today fell by over 43 points to 19,721.49 in early trade, snapping its three-session winning streak, as funds and retail investors booked profits amid a mixed trend in the Asian region.

The 30-share barometer, which gained 342 points in the last three sessions, moved down by 43.29 points, or 0.22 per cent, to 19,721.49, with stocks of realty, metals and banking sectors leading the fall.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty, dipped below the 6,000-mark by losing 14.45 points, or 0.24 per cent, to 5,995.05.

Brokers said besides profit-booking by speculators, a mixed trend at the Asian markets following overnight losses at on the US markets, influenced the sentiments.

In Asia, Japan stock market which resumed trading after long winter-break, was trading 2.61 per cent higher, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.12 per cent in early trade today.

In the US market, Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.16 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.

Stocks to watch-Jan 4

GLOBAL MARKETS ROUNDUP

Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange fell 0.15 percent. The MSCI-Asia Pacific index, excluding Japan fell 1 percent.

Asian shares fell on Friday, tracking overnight weakness in global equities after several Federal Reserve officials expressed concerns about continuing to expand stimulative bond buying, but the dollar extended gains as U.S. debt yields rose.

U.S. stocks dipped on Thursday after signs the Federal Reserve has growing concern about its highly stimulative monetary policy.

EVENTS TO WATCH

FINANCIAL/REGULATORY

SEBI has named Reliance Industries Ltd and 12 other related entities in the list of 149 firms and individuals whose consent applications had been rejected.

ENERGY/COMMODITIES

... contd.

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