The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today fell by over 98 points in the opening trade as investors sold stocks in blue-chips amid weak Asian cues. The 30-share index, which had gained almost 200 points on Monday's session, fell to 17,675 points. Oil and gas, banking and metal sector stocks led the fall. The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also fell by 40.10 points, to 5,293 points. Market men said trading sentiment turned bearish on emergence of profit-selling by funds at prevailing levels and weakening trend in Asian bourses. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was 1.24 per cent lower in early trade.