Sensex opens 80 points lower on profit booking

Mumbai, Jan 21 (PTI) The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmarkSensex fell by nearly 80 points in opening trade today due toprofit booking by funds amid weak global cues.

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

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

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

Japan''s Nikkei was trading 0.87 per cent lower, whileHong Kong''s Hang Seng index marginally up by 0.05 per cent inearly trade.

In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.02points lower yesterday.