Sensex down 140 pts on low factory output fears, weak market trend

The BSE benchmark Sensex opened 140 points down on continued selling by foreign funds and retail investors amid weak trend in Asian bourses and in anticipation of a weak factory output data, scheduled for release today.

The 30-share barometer, which has lost 250 points in the previous four sessions, moved further down by 140.02 points, or 0.71 per cent to 19,311.43 level, led by the fall in auto, realty, metals, IT and banking stocks.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty slid 36.70 points, or 0.62 per cent down to 5,805.30 points.

According to market experts, the trading sentiment remains bearish on continued selling by funds and retail investors ahead of the industrial production data (IIP) for the month of February, to be released later this morning.

Further, subdued trend on other Asian bourses has also dampened the market sentiment here.

Meanwhile, in other important indices in Asia, the Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.03 per cent and the Japan's Nikkei was trading 0.57 per cent down this morning. In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.24 per cent lower in the previous session on Friday.