By IANS,
Mumbai: A key index of the Indian equities markets slipped back into the red around noon Thursday after a brief comeback, and was ruling about 165 points below its last closing figure.
The benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, opened at 15,517.36 points, above Wednesday’s close of 15,466.81 points. Around 12:45 p.m., it was trading in negative terrain at 15,301.25 points, 165.58 points or 1.07 percent lower.
Like the Sensex, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too fell, shedding 1.16 percent from its last close to stand at 4,601.35 points.
Broader market indices also were under pressure, with the BSE midcap index falling 0.96 percent from its previous close, while the BSE smallcap index was down 1.51 percent.
Of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE, the ones for metal and auto stocks were among the few gainers, while those for IT, public sector undertakings, oil and gas and consumer durables came under selling pressure.
The market breadth was negative, with 828 stocks advancing, 1,673 declining and 72 remaining unchanged.
Among gainers on the Sensex at this time were Mahindra and Mahindra, up 4.06 percent at Rs.799; Hindalco, up 3.19 percent at Rs.97.05; HDFC, up 3.08 percent at Rs.1,540.20; and Bharti, up 2.17 percent at Rs.853.15.
Of the losers on the Sensex were ACC, down 3.88 percent at Rs.862.50; SBI, down 3.64 percent at Rs.1,692.80; ONGC, down 3.31 percent at Rs.1,126; and Infosys, down 3.23 percent at Rs.1,745.
Other Asian markets were also tilting towards the negative, with a key index of the Tokyo stock exchange, Nikkei 225 Stock Average, closing 10.16 percent lower than its previous close at 9,981.33 points.
On the other hand, the Hang Seng, a primary index of the Hong Kong stock exchange, was ruling 125.22 points down at 18,660.44 points.