Mumbai: The benchmark BSE Sensex extended losses for the fifth straight day by losing over 34 points in early trade today on sustained selling by funds amid a weak trend in other Asian markets.

The 30-share index, which has lost 544 points in the previous four sessions, fell further by 34.19 points, or 0.12 %, to 28,157.83.

Similarly, the National Stock Exchange index Nifty shed 5.10 points, or 0.06 %, to 8,546.85.

Brokers said sustained selling by participants amid a weak trend on other Asian markets after a gauge of Chinese manufacturing plunged to an 11-month low in March mainly influenced the sentiment.

Shares of Jindal Steel and Power rose by 2.75 % to Rs 158.80 after Delhi High Court yesterday directed the Centre to maintain status quo on a Chhattisgarh mine, the bid for which by the company had been cancelled by the government.

Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was down 0.70 %, while Japan’s Nikkei index shed 0.18 % in early trade.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.06 % lower in yesterday’s trade.