The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex tanked by almost 169 points in the opening trade on Tuesday, on profit-booking and a weak trend in Asia. The 30-share barometer, which had gained 268.49 points in yesterday's session, fell by 168.71 points or 0.87 per cent to 19,236.39 level at the outset of trade, with oil and gas, auto, banking, realty and technology sector stocks leading the fall.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty declined by 56.10 points or 0.96 per cent to trade below
5,800 mark at 5,773.90.

Brokers said a fresh spell of selling in heavy-weight stocks by funds and retailers after the previous session's
gains, coupled with weak Asian bourses following overnight losses at the US markets, weighed on the trading sentiment.

Besides, they said off-loading of positions by market players ahead of today's scheduled release of GDP data for the
quarter ending September 30, also cast its shadow.

In other markets in Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was trading lower by 0.22 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei shed
0.55 per cent in early trade today.

In the US, Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.36 points higher in yesterday's trade.