By IANS,
New Delhi : Late selling Wednesday pulled down a barometer index of Indian equities which ended 197 points lower. Auto and realty stocks led the losing stocks on a day when cues from global bourses were sombre.
The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,509.95 points, closed at 20,301.1 points, down 197.62 points or 0.96 percent from its previous close at 20,498.72 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended at 6,079.8 points, down 1.08 percent or 66.55 points.
Broader markets shut shop in the red too, with the BSE midcap index closing 1.27 percent lower and the BSE smallcap index ending 1.02 percent down.
FMCG and IT stocks were gaining while banking, realty and auto scrips came under selling pressure.
The market breadth was negative, with 1,020 stocks advancing, compared to 1,864 scrips on the decline, while 184 stocks were unchanged.
Among the gainers on the Sensex were Hindustan Unilever, up 1.43 percent at Rs.325.65; ITC, up 1.38 percent at Rs.179.90; Hindalco Industries, up 1.36 percent at Rs.246.55; and TCS, up 1.25 percent at Rs.1,158.05.
The losers were Bajaj Auto, down 3.69 percent at Rs.1,377.80; Hero Honda, down 3.6 percent at Rs.1,904.05; DLF, down 3.28 percent at Rs.281.90 and ICICI Bank, down 3.08 percent at Rs.1,070.10.
According to data available with SEBI, foreign institutional investors bought scrips worth $173.78 million Wednesday.
Other major bourses in Asia were trading lower as commodity stocks fell, pulled down by a strong US dollar. Also news that the Chinese central bank may set banks’ reserve requirements on a monthly basis and for each individual bank separately had a dampening effect.
The Japanese Nikkei index closed dull, down 0.17 percent lower at 10,380.77 points, while the Chinese Shanghai Composite index ended 0.49 percent lower at 2,838.59 points.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed with modest gains, moving up 0.38 percent up at 23,757.82 points.
European markets were trading lower with doubts remaining over a recovery in the world economy. Metals and mining stocks led the losers after commodity prices fell in the U.S.
Around mid-day, the German DAX was trading 1.37 percent lower at 6,880.06 points, while the French CAC 40 was ruling 1.2 percent down at 3,869.12 points.
The UK’s FTSE was down 0.51 percent at 5,982.95 points.