Sensex opens 80 points lower

The 30-share barometer, which had gained 68.22 points in the previous session, fell by 79.61 points to 18,966.93 points.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index also declined by 24.30 points to 5,687.30 points.

Analysts attributed the decline to profit booking by investors amid a weakening trend in other Asian markets.

Japan`s Nikkei was trading 0.87 per cent lower, while Hong Kong`s Hang Seng index marginally up by 0.05 per cent in early trade.