By IANS,
Mumbai : A key index of the Indian equities markets slipped further into the red Wednesday as selling continued in realty, FMCG, and capital goods stocks. Early afternoon, the index was 119.78 points lower than its previous close.
At 12.21 p.m., the 30-scrip benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened higher at 15,882.39 points, was at 15,726.16 points — 119.78 points or 0.76 percent lower than Tuesday’s close.
At around the same time, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), too, was trading in the red at 4,633.95 points, down 0.79 percent.
However, broader market indices were trading mixed, with the BSE midcap index trading 0.41 percent lower and the BSE smallcap index moving up 0.28 percent.
On the BSE, realty, FMCG, capital goods and metal stocks came under selling pressure, while consumer durables and IT stocks found favour among buyers.
The market breadth was tilted slightly towards the positive, with 1,262 stocks rising, compared to 1,195 declining on the BSE and 92 remaining unchanged.
Prominent gainers on the Sensex at this time were ACC, up 2.08 percent at Rs.919; Reliance Infra, up 1.83 percent at Rs.1,210.50; Infosys, up 1.72 percent at Rs.2,078.90; and ONGC, up 1.53 percent at Rs.1,158.50.
Among losers on the 30-scrip Sensex were Hindalco, down 3.5 percent at Rs.109; Maruti Suzuki, down 2.76 percent at Rs.1,446; DLF, down 2.55 percent at Rs.388.20, and Jaiprakash Associates, down 2.51 percent at Rs.238.60.
In other Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed lower at 10,252.53 points, down 122.48 points.
The Hang Seng, the primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, was ruling in the red at 20,502.4 points, down 294.03 points.
European markets opened weak Wednesday, adding to the bearish sentiment at Indian markets.