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Markets decline in early trade tracking weak Asian peers

Benchmark equity indices slumped in early trade on Wednesday after a day's breather in line with losses in Asian markets amid escalating trade tensions as domestic investors eye the Reserve Bank's monetary policy decision to be announced later in the day. The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex dropped 554.02 points to 73,673.06 in early trade. The NSE Nifty declined 178.85 points to 22,357.