Sensex down 138 pts in opening trade

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark index Sens*x fell by 138 points in early trade on Wednesday as foreign funds and retail investors booked profits at existing higher levels amid weak global markets.

The 30-share index, which had lost over 47 points in the past two sessions, fell by 138.09 points, or 0.65 per cent, to 15,193.85 points in the first five minutes of the trade.

Meanwhile, the National Stock Exchange index Nifty lost 43.05 points to 4,521.05 points.

Stocks of realty, capital goods and metal sectors, which had risen sharply in the recent run-up, succumbed to profit-taking, pulling the Sens*x down.

Marketmen said emergence of profit-booking by major players, including foreign funds, at existing higher levels led to fall in select stocks.

Stocks of FMCG major Hindustan Unilever lost 0.47 per cent at Rs 275.70 after company reported a decline of 2.69 per cent in its first quarter net profits.

Reliance Industries dipped by 0.95 per cent at Rs 1,892.10, Reliance Infra by 1.15 per cent at Rs 1,196, Infosys Technologies by 0.64 per cent at Rs 1,982.05, DLF Ltd by 2.91 per cent at Rs 413.70, Tata Steel by 1.95 per cent at Rs 459.80 and Sterlite Industries by 1.29 per cent at Rs 649.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 1.75 per cent in the morning trade today.