Sensex opens 183 points down on profit-booking, Brexit fears

Market benchmark BSE Sensex tanked almost 183 points and the NSE Nifty broke below the crucial 8,200-mark in early trade today due to profit-booking by investors after yesterday’s gains amid weak global cues.

The 30-share barometer declined by 182.71 points or 0.68 per cent to 26,543.63 with sectoral indices banking, teck, auto, IT, capital goods and metal, leading the fall.

The index had gained 330.63 points in the last session. The NSE Nifty was also trading lower by 60.90 points, or 0.74 per cent, at 8,145.70.

Brokers said apart from profit-booking in yesterday’s gainers, weak trend in other Asian bourses as US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen highlighted concerns about Britain’s upcoming vote on whether to exit the European Union, mainly dampened the sentiment.

The Federal Reserve has left interest rates on hold. In the Asian region, Japan’s Nikkei shed 1.10 per cent, while China’s Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.27 per cent in early trade today. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was down 1.89 per cent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.20 per cent lower in yesterday’s trade.