Sensex down by another 52 points on mild selling pressure

Mumbai, Feb 11 (PTI) The Sensex was down by 52 points at1015 hours today after getting off to a good start as negativecues from other Asian bourses dragged the benchmark index ofthe Bombay Stock Exchange down.

Metal, oil and gas, tech and realty stocks were the majorlosers in early trade.

Interest-rate sensitive realty stocks extended theirrecent losses over concerns that high interest costs andproperty prices may dent demand for residential units.

However, Tata Motors edged higher ahead of theannouncement of its Q3 results.

The BSE benchmark Sensex was down by 51.65 points, or0.30 per cent, at 17,411.39 at 1015 hours. In early trade, thebarometer moved in a range between 17,526.64 and 17,407.22points.

The NSE''s 50-share Nifty index was also trading lower by14.45 points, or 0.28 per cent, at 5,211.35 at 1015 hours.

As per provisional figures released by the exchanges,foreign funds sold shares worth Rs 954.87 crore and domesticfunds bought shares worth Rs 637.30 crore yesterday.

Asian shares slipped to two-month lows in early trade asinvestors were wary of adding risk due to rising uncertaintyin Egypt. Meanwhile, the euro came under pressure due torenewed concerns over the ability of eurozone members to repaysovereign debt.

The key benchmark indices in Indonesia, China, Japan,Singapore and Taiwan were down by 0.09 per cent to 0.64 percent in early trade today. However, the key benchmark indicesin South Korea and Hong Kong rose by up to 0.48 per cent. PTIRSU SVC VKV ARV