Sensex tumbles 44 points on profit-booking

Mumbai: The benchmark BSE Sensex fell about 44 points in early trade today as stocks of IT, technology, FMCG and metal companies succumbed to profit-booking after recent gains amid weak Asian cues.

The 30-share index declined by 43.64 points, or 0.17 percent, to 25,692.26. In the previous session, the gauge gained 216.68 points.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty edged down by 12.75 points, or 0.16 percent, to 7,821.70.

Brokers said emergence of profit-booking in select blue-chips after recent gains and a weak trend at other Asian bourses mainly dampened sentiment. Among other Asian bourses, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down by 0.14 percent while Japan's Nikkei slipped 0.67 percent in early trade today. The Shanghai Composite index fell 0.67 percent.

The US Dow Jones, however, rose 0.72 percent in yesterday's trade.