By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index for Indian equities Wednesday was ruling 106 points lower in noon trade, slipping further from its morning lows, with energy, banking and metal stocks coming under selling pressure.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,623.66 points, was ruling at 17,508.44 points, 106.14 points or 0.6 percent down from its previous close at 17,614.48 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 5,253.2 points, down 0.68 percent from its previous close at 5,289.05 points.
Broader markets indices were, however, in the positive, with the BSE midcap index ruling 0.15 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index up 0.42 percent.
The market breadth was positive thanks to buying interest in broader markets, with 1,541 scrips advancing, compared to 1,189 stocks declining, and 99 remaining unchanged.
Asian markets were dull with investors booking profits after the gains Tuesday, tracking US markets which ended flat after a brief rise.
The Japanese Nikkei was ruling 0.63 percent down at 9,279.65 points on profit taking in exporters stocks, while the South Korean Kospi ended 0.55 percent lower at 1,675.65 points.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was ruling at 19,839.55 points, down 1.22 percent, while the Chinese Shanghai Composite index was flat at 2,407.08 points.