Sensex eases further by 28 points on mild selling

Mumbai, Jan 27 (PTI) The BSE benchmark Sensex declinedfurther by 28 points in the early trade due to mild sellingpressure in select counters ahead of the expiry of the Januarycontract today.

Realty, healthcare, IT and metal sectors were the majorlosers.

The BSE benchmark Sensex resumed higher at 19,086.69, butdeclined immediately to 18,882.77 before quoting at 18,941.23at 1015 hours from its Tuesday''s close.

The NSE 50-share Nifty also moved down by 12.20 points,or 0.21 per cent, to 5,675.20 from its last close.

However, Asian markets rose in early trade on upbeat USearnings. Key benchmark indices in China, Singapore, HongKong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan rose about 0.09 per centto 1.08 per cent.

In US market action overnight, the S&P 500 closed at a29-month high on Wednesday, led by gains in tech and commodityshares, as investors largely ignored the US Federal Reserve''slukewarm economic assessment.

The Fed said after a two-day policy review that highunemployment still justifies a USD 600 billion bond-buyingprogram that has helped equities rally in the last few months.

The Fed left interest rates steady near zero in unanimousvote.