Sensex down 17 points in early trade

Mumbai, July 25: The BSE benchmark Sensex on Thursday fell over 17 points in early trade as funds and retail investors kept their commitments restricted in view of monthly expiry in the derivatives segment.

The 30-share barometer fell by 17.44 points, or 0.09 per cent, to trade at 20,073.24 points.
The index had lost 211.45 points in the previous session. Consumer durables, realty and banking sector stocks were down due to selling pressure.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty fell by 7.70 points, or 0.13 per cent, to 5,982.80 points.

Brokers said cautious approach adopted by participants as on Thursday being the last session of current month expiry in the derivatives segment and a weak trend in the Asian region mainly dampened the trading sentiment.

Besides, investors were cautious ahead corporate earnings from bluechip companies, they said.

Stocks of Cairn India fell by 1.19 per cent to Rs 304.20 after company reported 18 per cent drop in the April-June quarter net profit, while Hero MotoCorp spurted by 3.26 per cent to Rs 1,815.10 despite 10.86 per cent decline in its net profit for the first quarter.

In the Asian region, Japan's Nikkei Index was down 0.56 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.44 per cent in early trade.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.16 per cent lower in Wednesday's trade.