By IANS,
Mumbai : A late sell off pulled a benchmark index of Indian equities down 235 points Thursday. Broader markets also were hit by the selling pressure.
The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,544.3 points, closed at 20,307.87 points, down 235.21 points or 1.14 percent from its previous close at 20,543.08 points.
It had slipped more than 250 points minutes before closing bell to an intra-day low 20,288.71 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended at 6,118 points, down 1.1 percent.
Broader markets too gave up intra-day gains. The BSE midcap ended 0.62 percent down and the BSE smallcap index 0.83 percent lower.
Other Asian markets too closed on a sombre note as traders chose to book profits. The mood was cautious, ahead of the release of US non-farm payroll data.
The Japan’s Nikkei closed flat at 9,684.81 points, down 0.07 percent.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng also ended trade almost unchanged at 22,884.32 points. The Chinese markets were closed Thursday.
European market indices moved up after a weak start.