The BSE benchmark Sensex today declined by over 88 points in early trade, extending losses for the fourth straight session as funds and retail investors engaged booking profit amid a weak trend in global markets.

The 30-share barometer fell by 88.49 points, or 0.44 percent, to 19,662.70. The index had lost nearly 254 points in the past three sessions.

Stocks of realty, capital goods, metal, auto, power and banking sectors declined due to profit-booking.  Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty fell by 39.35 points, or 0.65 per cent, to 5,947.90.

Brokers said a weak trend in the Asian trade following overnight losses on the US market on weak data, spurring selling, dampened the trading sentiment here.

In the Asian region, Japan’s Nikkei Index was down 1.27 percent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index shed 1.66 percent in early trade. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.93 per cent down in yesterday’s trade.

Nifty below 6K, midcaps bleed; Bombay Dyeing sinks 9.5%

Equity markets fell sharply as sell-off intensified across Capital Goods and selct FMCG stocks. At 13.30 hrs IST, the Sensex is down 105.31 points or 0.53 percent at 19645.88, and the Nifty down 38.25 points or 0.64 percent at 5949.00. Europe has opened flat.

Ambuja Cement and ACC from the cement pack were trading with over 1 percent gains. Sun Pharma continues to trade as topper on the bourses   Midcaps were the worst hit with Bombay Dyeing falling a steep 9.5 percent followed by Jubilant Foods, UCO Bank and Jain Irrigation. CEBBCO recovered after management clarified that the company was not facing any corporate governance issues.