SENSEX EXTENDS LOSSES, DOWN 109 POINTS IN EARLY TRADE

Brokers said sustained selling by funds and retail investors amid a weak trend in Asian trade, following overnight losses on the U.S. market as investors book profits, dampened the trading sentiment.The benchmark BSE Sensex on Friday declined over 109 points in early trade, extending losses for the third straight session, as funds and retail investors engaged in selling activity amid a weak trend in global markets.The 30-share barometer fell 109.65 points, or 0.52 per cent, to 20,778.68. The index had lost nearly 283 points in the past two sessions. Stocks of metal, auto, realty, capital goods and banking sectors led the fall.

Similarly, the wide-based NSE index Nifty fell by 21.40 points, or 0.34 per cent, to 6,199.75.Brokers said sustained selling by funds and retail investors amid a weak trend in the Asian trade, following overnight losses on the U.S. market as investors book profits following solid gains in 2013, dampened the trading sentiment.In the Asian region, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index shed 1.04 per cent in early trade, while Japan’s Tokyo Stock Exchange is closed for a public holiday.The U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.82 per cent down in Thursday’s trade.