Snapping a two-day rising streak, the BSE benchmark index Sensex fell by nearly 36 points to 16,845 in early trade today, as funds and retail investors booked profits at prevailing levels amid fears of a rise in inflation. In addition, weakening trend on the other Asian Bourses also dampened the trading sentiments. The 30-share index, had gained 212.5 points in the past two sessions. It fell by 36 points, or 0.21 per cent, with stocks of banking, power and capital goods sectors succumbing to profit-booking.Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty declined by 16 points, or 0.31 per cent, to 5,105 points.In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell by 0.66 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei Index declined by 0.69 per cent in the morning trade today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.62 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.