Mumbai: The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex declined by over 190 points in opening trade today as funds and retail investors locked in gains recorded in the past few sessions amid a weakening trend overseas.
The 30-share Sensex, which had gained over 972 points in the previous three sessions, fell by 190.03 points, or 1.13 per cent, to 16,631.07 in opening trade today.
All the sectoral indices were trading in the negative zone with losses of up to 1.73 per cent.
In a similar fashion, the wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index shed 60.15, or 1.19 per cent, to 4,979.85.
Brokers said besides profit-booking by funds and retail investors after handsome gains were recorded in the previous three sessions, a weakening trend on other Asian bourses on renewed fears of a recession in the US and sustained worries about the euro zone debt crisis also dampened the trading sentiment here.
In the Asian region, the Hong Kong`s Hang Seng index was down 2.22 per cent, while Japan`s Nikkei shed 1.69 per cent.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average in the US ended 2.20 per cent lower in the previous session on Friday.