Sensex slips below 30,000, down 133 points in early trade

The BSE benchmark cracked below the 30,000-level by dropping 133 points in early trade on Friday on emergence of profit-booking after yesterday's strong rally.

Mumbai: The BSE benchmark cracked below the 30,000-level by dropping 133 points in early trade on Friday on emergence of profit-booking after yesterday's strong rally.

Besides, a weak trend in global markets as investors await the US non-farm payrolls data and drop in commodity prices overnight also influenced sentiment.

The 30-share barometer tripped by 133.04 points, or 0.44 percent, to 29,993.17 in early trade.

The index had risen by 231.41 points in the previous session, buoyed by reform steps in the banking and infra space.

Sectoral indices led by metal, capital goods, FMCG, IT, teck, auto, power and realty were trading in the negative zone, falling by up to 1.45 percent.

Also, the NSE Nifty was trading 32.35 points or 0.35 percent lower at 9,327.55.

Banking stocks were seen carrying forward the positive sentiment arising out of the government's decision to bring an ordinance to give greater powers to the Reserve Bank to tackle mounting bad loans.

In the banking segment, shares of SBI, ICICI Bank, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Federal Bank and Kotak Bank were trading higher by up to 3.76 percent.

Brokers said apart from weak global cues, investors booked profit after recent gains, pushing the indices down.

Among Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.87 percent, while Shanghai's Composite Index down 0.73 percent in their early deals. Financial markets in Japan and South Korea are shut today for a public holiday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.03 percent lower in yesterday's trade amid mixed earnings.