By IANS,
Mumbai : A key index of Indian equities markets recouped most of the day’s losses Wednesday to end 54 points below its previous close even as major Asian markets tumbled as much as 3 percent Wednesday.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened lower at 14,953.44 points, ended trade at 15,020.16 points, down 54.43 points or 0.36 percent.
The index plunged to a low of 14,701.05 points in intra-day trading, but recovered most of the losses in the afternoon.
The Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too shut shop in the red at 4,457.5 points, down 0.31 percent.
Broader market indices closed in positive terrain, with the BSE midcap index ending 0.28 percent up, while the the BSE smallcap index closed 0.47 percent higher.
Of the 13 sectoral indices, IT, metal and PSU stocks lost the most as these came under greater selling pressure. Among those who made gains included realty and auto stocks.
The market breadth was tilted towards negative, with 1,214 stocks advancing, 1,368 declining and 99 remaining unchanged.
Among gainers on the Sensex were Bharti Airtel, up 5.84 percent at Rs.404.85; Tata Motors, up 4.41 percent at Rs.441.75; DLF, up 2.91 percent at Rs.373.10, and Sun Pharma, up 2.73 percent at Rs.1,238.60.
Prominent among the losers were Tata Steel, down 4.2 percent at Rs.443.70; TCS, down 4.11 percent at Rs.519.45; Hindustan Unilever, down 2.32 percent at Rs.257.05, and Infosys, down 1.87 percent at Rs.2,042.75.
According to data with the regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors bought shares worth $146.9 million Wednesday.
In other Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed 150.46 points in the red at 10,435 points, a loss of 1.42 percent compared to its previous close.
The Hang Seng, the primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, too, was ruling in the negative terrain at 20,435.24 points, down 638.97 points or 3.03 percent.