By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index for Indian equities markets slipped Thursday afternoon with selling spreading across the market-breadth.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,086.69 points, was ruling at 18,816.57 points, down 152.88 points or 0.81 percent from its previous close at 18,969.45 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange too was in the green, trading 0.77 percent lower at 5,643.45 points.
Broader markets, also slipped, with the BSE midcap index trading 0.8 percent down and the BSE smallcap index 0.5 percent lower.
All 13 sectoral indices on the BSE were in the red, with realty, healthcare and telecom stocks facing bulk of the selling pressure.
The market breadth was negative, with 1,098 stocks advancing compared to 1,582 scrips on the decline, while 117 stocks remained unchanged.
Among gainers on the Sensex were Tata Motors, Jaiprakash Associates, Bajaj Auto and SBI, while the losers included M&M, Sterlite Industries, DLF and Jindal Steel.
Other Asian stock markets were in the green, tracking news that the US Federal Reserve had decided to keep key rates unchanged and taking hope from new home sales data that came out better than expected.
The Japanese Nikkei closed 0.76 percent up at 10,478.66 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was ruling flat at 23,843.92 points.
The Chinese Shanghai Composite index was ruling 1.49 percent higher at 2,749.15 points.