By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index for Indian equities Friday closed in the red for the fourth straight day Friday, down 0.27 percent from its previous close, amid negative cues from other Asian markets.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,645.91 points, closed at 17,591.18 points, 48.08 points or 0.27 percent lower than its previous close at 17,639.26 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 5,262.6 points, a loss of 0.21 percent from its previous close.
Broader market indices too were in the red with the BSE midcap index ending 0.27 percent lower and the BSE small cap index closing 0.19 percent down.
Power, PSU and capital goods scrips faced bulk of the selling pressure.
The market breadth was negative with 1,179 stocks advancing, compared to 1,704 on the decline, while 124 remained unchanged.
Top gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex were ITC, up 2.47 percent at Rs.269.25; Tata Steel, up 1.33 percent at Rs.694.45; Tata Motors, up 1.15 percent at Rs.784.65; and Hindustan Unilever, up 0.53 percent at Rs.226.45.
Major losers included Jaiprakash Associates, down 2.47 percent at Rs.147.95; DLF, down 2.44 percent at Rs.330; Hero Honda, down 1.62 percent at Rs.1,919.50; M&M, down 1.51 percent at Rs.502.65.
Other Asian markets too had a fairly poor day.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed 1.32 percent lower at 21,865.26 points, while the Chinese Shanghai composite index was down 1.1 percent at 3,130.3 points.
The South Korean Kospi closed 0.54 percent down at 1,734.49 points, while the Japanese Nikkei shut shop in the red at 11,102.18 points — down 1.52 percent.
European markets were ruling flat at the time of closing bell here.
The FTSE 100, the benchmark index of the London Stock Exchange, was ruling at 5,812.94 points, down 0.21 percent, while its German peer, DAX, was trading 0.1 percent lower at 6,285.3 points.
The French CAC 40 index was down 0.09 percent at 4,062.07 points.