Sensex trims early losses; hovering around 18,850

Zeebiz Bureau

Mumbai: The BSE benchmark Sensex trimmed its early losses but was still being quoted down by 50 points in the mid-session trade Thursday as funds and retail investors preferred to book profits after six sessions of gains amid a weak trend in global markets.

The 30-share barometer, which has surged by over 470 points in the last six sessions, fell by 46.55 points to 18,856.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty fell by 22.75 points to 5,737.

Brokers said besides profit-booking by speculators, a weak trend in Asian trade following overnight losses at the US market on fears its economy is facing another huge economic crisis, spurring a sell-off, dampened the trading sentiments here.

In Asian region, Japan's Nikkei Index was down 1.64 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 1.28 percent in early trade.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 2.36 percent down in yesterday's trade.

With PTI Inputs