Sensex down 81 points on weak Asian cues

The benchmark BSE Sensex surrendered another 81 points to quote at 26,408.74 in early trade today on sustained selling by investors and funds amid weak Asian cues.

The 30-share barometer was down 80.82 points, or 0.31 per cent, to 26,408.74 in early trade, with sectoral indices led by consumer durables, auto, realty and banking trading lower.

The index had lost 208.26 points in previous three sessions.The NSE Nifty dropped 25.20 points, or 0.30 per cent, to



8,114.25.

Brokers said apart from continued outflows by foreign funds, a weak trend in Asia tracking a sell-off on Wall Street and extending last week's losses on concerns of an expected jump in US interest rates next year mainly pulled the indices down.

Japan's Nikkei fell 0.22 per cent while Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.84 per cent in early trade today. Shanghai Composite too shed 0.19 per cent.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.04 per cent lower in Friday's trade.