By IANS,
Mumbai : Indian equities markets were in a southbound trend Thursday, with a key index ending 1.59 percent below its previous close.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 9,559.03 points, lost 152.71 points or 1.59 percent from Wednesday’s close to end at 9,465.83 points.
Similarly, the broader S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) lost 1.12 percent to close at 2,893.05 points.
However, the BSE midcap index was up 0.1 percent, while the BSE smallcap index gained 0.71 percent over its previous close.
Of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE, those of realty and auto companies gained the most, while IT, technology and oil and gas stocks were down.
The overall market sentiment was mixed with 1,309 stocks advancing, 1,090 scrips declining and 113 remaining unchanged.
Top gainers among the scrips on the Sensex included Mahindra and Mahindra (up 6.86 percent at Rs.299.85), DLF (up 3.58 percent at Rs.156.25), Reliance Infra (up 1.57 percent at Rs.550) and Sun Pharma (up 0.84 percent at Rs.1,105.55).
Among other major gainers on the BSE, unusual upward price movement was witnessed in scrips of Spice Tele (up 50.5 percent at Rs.78.85) and Hexaware (up 65.67 percent at Rs.33.30).
Market regulator SEBI has already launched a probe into the unusual price movements of Spice Tele in the past few trading sessions.
Losers on the Sensex were Jaiprakash Associates (down 4.76 percent at Rs.73.05), Ranbaxy Laboratories (down 3.82 percent at Rs. 212.75), Bharti Airtel (down 3.52 percent at Rs.650.45) and Infosys (down 3.39 percent at Rs.1,258.35).
BSE’s major losers were United Spirits (down 9.39 percent at Rs.665.25), Great Estate (down 5.69 percent at Rs.200.60) and IVRCL (down 5.32 percent at Rs.120.20).
In other Asian markets, a key Japanese index, the Nikkei of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed at 7,705.36 points, 3.03 percent lower than its previous close.
The Hang Seng, a key index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, ended 2.3 percent below its last close.
European markets were weak with the FTSE index in Britain ruling 1.11 percent lower than its previous close.