Sensex down 236 points to five-month low in early trade on BSE

Mumbai, Jan 31 (PTI) The BSE benchmark Sensex was down236 points to a 5-month low at 1015 hours today as IT, auto,metal and realty stocks succumbed to selling pressure amid aweak trend in Asian markets over concerns that the turmoil inEgypt could spread to other Middle East countries.

The BSE benchmark Sensex tumbled by 235.50 points, or1.28 per cent vis-a-vis its previous close, to 18,160.47 at1015 hours.

Similarly, the NSE 50-share Nifty was also down by 57.30points, or 1.04 per cent, at 5,454.85 at 1015 hours.

Crude oil extended Friday''s rally over concerns that theunrest in Egypt would spread to crude-producing countries inthe Middle East, hitting supplies.

Stock markets across Asia were in the red in early tradetoday after riots in Egypt prompted a sell-off in risky assetsover concerns that the trouble could spread to other MiddleEast countries.

The benchmark indices in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan,South Korea and Singapore were down by up to 2.77 per cent.

However, China''s Shanghai Composite index was a notableexception and was trading 1 per cent higher.