The BSE benchmark Sensex was trading 97 points down at 17,754 points in the noon trade a short while ago. It fell by nearly 89 points in the early trade today as funds and retail investors preferred to book profits amid a weak trend in Asian region. Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty was also trading 39 points down at 5377 points.The rupee declined by 18 paise to 55.44 against the dollar in early trade today, snapping four sessions of gains, at the Interbank Foreign Exchange on fresh demand for the American currency.