In early trade today, the benchmark BSE Sensex dropped by 72 points on weak Asian Cues. The 30-share barometer also depreciated by 71.65 pts or 0.22 per cent to 31,820.58.

Meanwhile, NSE Nifty fell by 21.85 pts, or 0.21 per cent, to 9,952.55.

According to the brokers said today, "apart from profit booking in recent gainers by investors, a weak trend in Asian markets on mounting geopolitical tensions after North Korea said it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, pulled down the indices."

The top losers among Sensex components wereHDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, L&T, Hind Unilever, Hero MotoCorp, Adani Ports, Dr Reddy's, Kotak Bank, Asian Paint, Sun Pharma, Infosys, NTPC, HDFC Ltd, M&M and Tata Steel, losing by up to 1.88 percent.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei was down 0.86 per cent while Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.49 per cent in early trade. Shanghai Composite Index, however, was marginally up by 0.08 per cent.

However, American Dow Jones ended 0.18% superior in Friday's trade.

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