Sensex slips below 27,000 mark, plunges by 185 points in early trade

Mumbai: The benchmark BSE Sensex tumbledover 185 points to dip below the 27,000-mark in early trade on selling by funds and retail investors after industrial production growth slowed to 0.5 per cent in July amid a weak trend in the Asian region.

The 30-share barometer slipped below the 27,000-mark by falling 185.55 points, or 0.69 per cent, to 26,875.49 with metal, FMCG, power, capital goods and IT stocks leading the fall. The index had gained 65.17 points in the previous session on Friday.

On similar lines, the National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved down by 70.95 points, or 0.88 per cent, to trade below the 8,100-mark at 8,034.55. In the metal sector, stocks of Tata Steel fell 2.19 per cent, Sesa Sterlite shed 1.33 per cent and Hindalco lost 2.43 per cent in early trade. Brokers said selling activity emerged largely on disappointing economic data as the country's industrial production growth slowed to 4-month low of 0.5 per cent in July but easing retail inflation to 7.8 per cent in August from 7.96 per cent in July, restricted the fall.

Besides, a weak trend on other Asian bourses after data showing Chinese industrial output expanded in August at its slowest rate since the global financial crisis, influenced the sentiments, they said.

Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down by 0.75 per cent in early trade, while Japan's financial markets are closed today for a public holiday.