The BSE benchmark index Sensex today fell 67 points in a choppy trade due to profit-taking in realty, metal and auto stocks amid a weak global trend.

The 30-share index moved between 18,249.53 and 18,005.23 before settling at 18,078.50 points, down by 66.75 points or 0.37 per cent over the last close.

The broad-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange fell 22.05 points or 0.4 per cent to 5,483.30, after touching the day’s high of 5,537.40 points.

Brokers said market turned bearish as investors booked profits from recent rallies as concerns mounted over the state of the global economy, including rising oil prices.

A weakening trend in the Asian region and lower opening in Europe, as re-sales of homes in the US trailed estimates, gave a negative impact on the market, they added.

They said the market turned volatile as major players were seen squaring up their pending positions on expiry of monthly derivatives segment, further fuelling the weakening trend.

The realty sector suffered the most by losing 2.46 per cent to 1,973.40 followed by the metal index by 1.41 per cent to 11,944.28. Auto index, which rallied in the last few sessions on higher sales, fell 0.79 per cent to 10,089.91.

The falling trend partly cushioned as Reliance Industries gained 0.59 per cent to Rs 838.10 and State Bank of India by 0.15 per cent to Rs 2,261.25.

Major losers of the index kitty were Infosys, Hero MotoCorp, ICICI Bank, Larsen and Toubro, Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra and Mahindra, Sterlite Industries, Bajaj Auto, Wipro and Bharti Airtel.

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