The BSE benchmark Sensex fell by 74 points in early trade today, on selling by funds and retail investors ahead of industrial output data, amid a mixed trend on Asian bourses.The 30-share barometer, which had lost almost 493 points in the previous three sessions, fell further by 74 points, or 0.45 per cent, to 16,346 in early trade today.In a similar fashion, the wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index declined by 26 points, or 0.51 per cent, to 4,940.In the Asia region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down 1.08 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei Index up 0.45 per cent in morning trade. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.16 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.