The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange fell 150 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 20,065 in early trade, today, on selling by foreign funds and retail investors ahead of the fourth-quarter GDP data.

Later, after the release of the GDP numbers, selling pressure intensified, and the Sensex had lost 291 points, or 1.4 per cent, to slip below the 20,000-level, at 19,925 in afternoon trade, a short while ago.

But other Asian markets in China, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan had gained between 0.1 percent and 1.5 percent, today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average had ended 0.1 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.

The rupee fell against the US dollar for the fourth consecutive day today, slipping another 15 paise to 56.53 per dollar on month-end dollar demand from importers despite weakness of the US unit in overseas markets.

The rupee resumed lower at 56.50 per dollar as against the last closing level of 56.38 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange, Forex market.

It hovered in a range of 56.39 and 56.60 before quoting at 56.53 per dollar.