Mumbai, July 19: The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today opened nearly 100 points lower on selling by funds and retail investors amid weak Asian markets.
The 30-share index, which had gained 46.36 points in the previous session, shed 99.42 points, or 0.55 per cent, to 17,856.40 points.
IT, realty, banking, metal and oil and gas stocks came under selling pressure posting losses up to 1.14 per cent.
The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty fell by 32.40 or 0.60 per cent, to 5,361.50 points.
Brokers said besides profit-booking by funds as well as retail investors, a weak trend in other Asian markets also dampened the sentiment here.
Among major losers, Infosys Technologies fell by 1.20 per cent to Rs 2,744.90, Reliance Industries by 0.29 per cent to Rs 1,059.85, SBI by 0.41 per cent to Rs 2,431.10, ICICI Bank by 1.23 per cent to Rs 891.