The BSE benchmark Sensex declined by nearly 65 points in early trade on Monday on funds’ selling triggered by a weakening trend on other Asian bourses after Standard and Poor’s cut the rating of nine European nations.

The 30-share BSE index, which gained 117.11 points in the previous session, declined by 64.50 points, or 0.40 per cent, to 16,090.12 points.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index shed 19.45 points, or 0.40 per cent, to 4,846.55 points.

Profit-booking in metal, capital goods, auto and banking stocks dragged the Sensex down, brokers said.

Fresh selling by funds on renewed worries over eurozone debt crisis after Standard and Poor’s cut ratings of nine European nations, including France and Austria’s triple-A status impacted the market sentiments, they said.

In the Asia region, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell by 1 per cent and Japan’s Nikkei Index by 1.53 per cent in early trade today.