Sensex continues to decline on weak Asian cues; down 104 pts

The benchmark BSE Sensex plunged 104 points in morning trade today on persistent selling on the back of weak Asian cues amid an escalating violence in Iraq.

Shares of capital goods, power, realty, banking, consumer durables and auto sectors fell on heavy selling pressure.

On the macro front, the government will announce data on inflation based on the wholesale price index (WPI) for May today.

Geopolitical concerns shifted from the crisis in Ukraine to the worsening situation in Iraq.

US President Barack Obama has said he will consider over the next several days options to help Iraqi forces turn back militants sweeping across the country. The insurgency highlights the risks to the world's oil supply.

The Sensex resumed slightly higher at 25,239.50 and moved in a range of 25,268.41 and 25,076.28 before quoting at 25,132.87 at 1000 hrs, showing a loss of 104.30 points, or 0.41 per cent, from its last weekend's level.

The 50-share CNX Nifty also dropped 53.60 points, or 0.71 per cent, to 7,488.50 at 1000 hrs.

Major losers were Tata Power (3.04 per cent), Larsen (2.41 per cent), Coal India (2.20 per cent), M&M (2.16 per cent), BHEL (2.06 per cent), Axis Bank (1.82 per cent), ONGC (1.69 per cent), Tata Steel (1.64 per cent) and SBI (1.53 per cent).

Asian stocks also edged lower in early trade amid an escalation of violence in Iraq. Key benchmark indices in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea fell 0.01-0.62 per cent while indices in China and Singapore rose 0.04-0.11 per cent.

Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 1,099.92 crore last Friday, as per the provisional data from the stock exchanges.