Sensex down 39 points in early trade

Mumbai, July 29: The BSE benchmark Sensex on Monday  fell over 39 points in early trade, extending losses for the fourth straight session, due to increased selling by funds ahead of RBI's policy review Tuesday amid a weak trend in other Asian markets.

The 30-share barometer fell by 39.37 points, or 0.19 per cent, to 19,708.82.

The index had lost nearly 555 points in the previous three sessions.

Stocks of banking, FMCG, realty, metal and capital goods sectors were major losers, pulling down the benchmark Sensex.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index, Nifty moved down by 16.19 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 5,869.30.

Brokers said selling by funds and other participants ahead of Reserve Bank of India's monetary policy review to be announced tomorrow and a weak trend in the Asian region, mainly dampened the trading sentiment here. In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index traded lower by 0.51 per cent, Japan's Nikkei Index fell 2.33 per cent, in early trade.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.02 per cent higher on Friday.