By IANS,
Mumbai : Interest rate sensitive stocks at Indian equities markets came under selling pressure ahead of the monetary policy review next week. A benchmark index closed 156 points down.
Realty and banking stocks were among the major losers.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,292.57 points, closed at 19,135.96 points, down 156.06 points or 0.81 percent from its previous close at 19,292.02 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange shut shop 0.62 percent lower at 5,749.5 points.
Broader markets too ended in the red with the BSE midcap index closing 1.03 percent down and the BSE small cap index ending 1.57 percent lower.
Among major gainers on the Sensex were Hindustan Unilever, up 2.24 percent at Rs.285.20; Maruti Suzuki, up 1.27 percent at Rs.1,319.75; RIL, up 0.83 percent at Rs.981.95; and Hero Honda, up 0.8 percent at Rs.1,709.65.
The losers included: L&T, down 3.87 percent at Rs.1,597.90; Jindal Steel, down 3.57 percent at Rs.653.20; ONGC, down 2.79 percent at Rs.308.90; and Jaiprakash Associates, down 2.57 percent at Rs.92.70.
According to data available with market regulator SEBI, foreign institutional investors were net sellers, off-loading stocks worth $60.9 million.
The market breadth was negative with 940 stocks advancing, 1,960 on the decline and 98 remaining unchanged.
There was not much action on the Asian markets with some major bourses closed.
The Shanghai composite index of the Chinese stock exchanges shut shop 0.85 percent down at 2,911.51 points.
The Hang Seng of the Hong Kong stock exchange slipped 0.36 percent to end at 23,720.81 points.
The Japanese markets were closed on account of a holiday.
The European bourses were in a slump with volumes on the lower side as it was a holiday in some of the major bourses.
Around midday, the French CAC 40 was trading 0.13 percent lower at 4,099.43 points, while the German DAX was ruling 0.26 percent down at 7,494.59 points.
Britain’s FTSE ended flat at 6,069.9 points.