The BSE benchmark Sensex fell marginally in early trade today as funds and retail investors preferred to book profits after two sessions of gains. The 30-share index fell by 19 points to 17,709 with stocks of IT, metals and PSU sectors leading the fall.Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty declined by 5 points to 5,375.In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was up by 0.27 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei Index gained 1.36 per cent in the morning trade today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average had ended 0.06 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.