The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex fell by almost 60 points in early trade on Thursday on profit booking by funds and retail investors.The 30-share index, which had gained 11.98 points in the previous choppy session, was down 59.50 points, or 0.34 per cent, to 17,413 points. The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also declined by 16 points, or 0.31 per cent, to 5,228 points.