The BSE benchmark Sensex today fell sharply by 295 points in early trade mainly due to widespread losses in IT-sector stocks after Infosys forecast lower-than-expected sales for fiscal 2013-14. Besides, a mixed trend in the global markets also influenced the trading sentiments. The 30-share index declined by 295 points, or 1.59 per cent, to 18,248 with stocks of IT, teck, realty, consumer durables and auto sectors leading the fall.Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty declined by 77 points, or 1.37 per cent, to 5,518.In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was up by 0.15 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei Index shed 0.52 percent in the morning trade today.The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.42 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.