The BSE benchmark Sensex fell by over 66 points in early trade on Wednesday, largely due to profit- booking by funds and speculators after recent gains amid a mixed Asian trend.

Snapping its four-session rising streak, the 30-share barometer declined by 66.26 points, or 0.34 per cent, to 18,974.69, with stocks of realty, consumer durables and banking sectors leading the fall.

The index had gained nearly 360 points in the previous four sessions. Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty moved down by 20.20 points, or 0.35 per cent, to 5,727.90.

Brokers said profit booking by participants after four sessions of gains and a mixed trend in the Asian region, mainly marred the trading sentiment.

Meanwhile in Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was down by 0.11 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei was up by 1.75 per cent in the early trade.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.61 per cent higher on Tuesday.