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Markets decline in early trade mirroring weak Asian equities

Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty declined in early trade on Thursday dragged down by blue-chip bank stocks and weak trends in Asian markets. The 30-share BSE benchmark gauge Sensex declined 106.78 points to 81,223.78 in early trade. The NSE Nifty dipped 38.45 points to 24,628.45. Later, the BSE benchmark traded 247.22 points lower at 81,082.80, and the Nifty quoted 67.15 points down at 24,599.75.