Sensex down 97 points as early gains erased by profit-booking

Mumbai, Feb 18 (PTI) The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmarkSensex was down by over 97 points at mid-session today, withearly gains erased by the emergence of profit-booking.

The Sensex, which rose by nearly 1,045 points in the pastfive trading sessions, fell by 97.72 points to 18,409.10points at mid-session today. The gauge had climbed by 1 percent at the onset of trade, but was unable to keep up themomentum.

In a similar fashion, the wide-based National StockExchange''s Nifty was also trading 17.80 points lower at5,528.65 at mid-session today.

Stockbrokers said profit-booking of the gains made bybluechips during the previous five sessions dragged the Sensexdown.

In particular, realty, auto and oil and gas stocks wereunder selling pressure at prevailing higher levels.