The BSE benchmark index Sensex declined by 98 points at 18,144 points in early trade today due to selling by funds and retail investors amid a weak trend in Asian markets.The 30-share barometer had lost 299 points in the previous session. Consumer durables, IT, auto, realty and capital goods sector stocks bore the brunt of selling pressure.The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty fell by 27 points to 5,502 points.In the Asian region, Japan's Nikkei Index was down 1.21 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 1.25 per cent in early trade. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.08per cent lower on Friday due to poor retail sales figure for March.