By IANS,
Mumbai : A key index of the Indian equities markets closed on a disappointing note Thursday, shutting shop 77 points below its previous close after rising 156 points during the day’s trading.
The benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened at 14,476.15 points, ended trade at 14,345.62 points – 77.11 points or 0.53 percent lower than Wednesday’s close.
Similarly, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) ended the day 1.19 percent down at 4,241.85 points.
Broader market indices closed almost flat, with the BSE midcap index ending 0.2 percent down, while the BSE smallcap index closed 0.45 percent lower than its previous close.
Of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE, those for auto, energy and PSU stocks were among the losers, while only realty, banking and capital goods scrips ended at the top.
The market breadth was positive, with 1,410 stocks advancing compared to 1,214 declining, while 79 scrips remained unchanged.
Among the gainers on the 30 scrip composite Sensex were HDFC, up 2.98 percent at Rs.2,378.10; Jaiprakash Associates, up 2.04 percent at Rs.217.75; Tata Power, up 1.85 percent at Rs.1,154.05; and ACC, up 1.73 percent at Rs.781.95.
Of the losers on the Sensex were Tata Motors, down 5.43 percent at Rs.337.60; Sun Pharma, down 3.47 percent at Rs.1,298.45; Maruti Suzuki, down 3.1 percent at Rs.1,026.90; and M&M, down 2.94 percent at Rs.702.65.
There was a huge spurt in volumes due to futures and options contract expiry, with the total traded turnover standing at Rs.1,24,076.92 crore against Rs.1,06,553.99 crore Wednesday.
This included Rs.23,522.19 crore from the NSE cash segment and Rs.95,928.31 crore from NSE futures and options segment. The balance Rs.4,626.42 crore from the BSE cash segment.
Data with the market watchdog Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) showed that foreign funds sold shares worth $123.9 million Thursday.
Other Asian markets were also in the green, with the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo stock exchange, ending Thursday’s trade 205.76 points up at 9,796.08 points.
The Hang Seng, a primary index of the Hong Kong stock exchange, similarly closed up at 18,275.03 points, an increase of 382.88 points over its previous close.
European markets were trading weak, with the FTSE, a key British index, ruling at 4,251.37, a decrease of 28.61 points.
Its French peer, CAC 40, was also in the red, ruling down at 3,140.25 points, a decrease of 44.51 points.
Key US market indices’ futures were on the rise, pointing to a better opening by the equity indices.
The Dow Jones futures rose 0.6 percent, while the Standard and Poor’s 500 index future increased by 0.5 percent. The technology scrip heavy Nasdaq future was trading 0.6 percent higher.