By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index of Indian equities ended 30 points lower Friday, bringing an end to a day that saw low-volume trading with heavyweight stock RIL adding to the drag.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,604.31 points, closed at 17,554.3 points — down 30.57 points or 0.17 percent from its previous close at 17,584.87 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended at 5,252.2 points, against its previous close at 5,259.9 points, a loss of 7.7 points or 0.15 percent.
Broader market indices also gave up some of the gains but still ended in the green, with the BSE midcap index ending 0.3 percent up and the BSE small cap index 0.4 percent higher.
The market breadth was tilted towards the negative with 1,508 stocks declining compared to 1,420 advancing and 66 remaining unchanged.
Among the top gainers were Reliance Communications, up 4.76 percent at Rs.191.50; ACC, up 3 percent at Rs.980.60; Tata Motors, up 1.83 percent at Rs.796.70; and ITC, up 1.77 percent at Rs.252.55.
Among top Sensex losers were Hindalco, down 2.6 percent at Rs.166.60; Sun Pharma, down 2 percent at Rs.1,525.50; ONGC, down 1.4 percent at Rs.1,213.20; and M&M, down 1.33 percent at Rs.1,155.25.
Blue chip stock RIL ended 1.04 percent lower at Rs.1,109.20.
Other Asian markets were a mixed bag, with the benchmark Japanese index, Nikkei riding the gains in technological stocks to end 0.68 percent higher at 10,982.1 points — a 15 month high.
The Korean Kospi closed higher at 1,701.8, up 0.95 percent, while the Chinese Shanghai composite index was up 0.27 percent at 3,224.15 points on news that foreign investment in the country rose to a handsome $12.1 billion in December.
However, the Hang Seng of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange closed 0.29 percent lower at 21,654.16 points as profit-booking set in.
European markets started trade on a firm note after computer chipmaker Intel’s quarterly results surpassed market expectations, fuelling hopes of a sound corporate earnings season.
The FTSE 100 index, the benchmark index of the London Stock Exchange, was ruling 0.27 percent higher at 5,513.22 points, while the French index, CAC 40, was up 0.37 percent at 4,030.66 points.
However, its German peer, the DAX, was ruling 0.19 percent lower at 5,977.57 points.