The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex lost 345 points in early trade today on selling by funds in metal, IT and banking sector stocks, triggered by weakening global markets. The 30-share index, Sensex, which had gained over 955 points in the past two sessions, plunged by 345.75 points, or 3.01 per cent at 11,137.65. Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange fell by 98.95 points, or 2.81 per cent at 3,419.70. Marketmen said overnight weakness at the US markets and similar trends in other Asian stock markets mainly dampened the trading sentiments. Weak Indian rupee, which depreciated by 46 paisa to 48.55 against the US dollar, too dampened the trading sentiments, they said. They said selling was wide spreading as all the sectoral indices were trading in the negative zone. Among banking stocks, largest lender in the private sector ICICI Bank lost Rs 13.45, or three per cent at Rs 433.65, while State Bank of India was down by Rs 7.90 at Rs 1,520.50. Other losers which dragged the Sensex down were Infosys Technologies, Satyam Computers, Tata Consultancy, Wipro, Reliance Industries, Reliance Infra, RCom, BHEL, Larsen and Toubro and Tata Steel. Meanwhile, the US Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.82 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 2.46 per cent and Nikkei down 1.36 per cent in early trade.

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