MUMBAI: The benchmark BSE Sensex fell over 125 points in early trade today as participants preferred to adopt a cautious approach and indulged in profit-booking ahead of retail inflation and IIP data to be released later in the day. The 30-share index was trading down by 125.30 points, or 0.45 per cent, at 27,333.08 with stocks of metal, oil & gas, PSU, auto and banking sectors leading the fall.
The index had gained 549.56 points in the previous two sessions.
On similar lines, the National Stock Exchange Nifty shed 38.90 points, or 0.46 per cent, at 8,245.60.
Brokers said profit-booking by participants ahead of key economic data -- industrial production (IIP) numbers for November and inflation for December -- to be released later in the day, contributed to the fall.
Further, a weak trend at other Asian markets and weekend losses in US markets influenced trading sentiments here, they said.
Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.01 per cent in early trade, while Japan's financial markets will remain closed today.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.95 per cent lower in Friday's trade.