By IANS,
Mumbai : Indian equities markets closed lower Friday, bringing an end to a week of volatile activities. A key index ended trade 1.58 percent lower than its previous close.
The sensitive index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (Sensex) closed at 8,674.35 points, 1.58 percent or 139.49 points down from the previous close.
The S&P CNX Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange closed at 2,678.55 points, 1.3 percent lower than Thursday’s close of 2,713.8 points.
Other market indices were also down with the BSE midcap index closing 1.56 percent lower and the BSE smallcap index shedding 1.5 percent.
Of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE, healthcare and oil and gas indices gained the most, while metal and banking scrips took a beating.
Market sentiment was negative with 1609 stocks declining and 795 scrips advancing. Ninety-nine stocks remained unchanged.
Among major gainers on the Sensex were Tata Motors (up 1.81 percent at Rs.135.10), Reliance industries (up 1.78 percent at Rs.Rs,1,153.15) and Ranbaxy (up 0.75 percent at Rs.187.50).
Sensex’s top losers were Mahindra and Mahindra (down 7.93 percent at Rs.264.70), Tata Steel (down 7.17 percent at Rs.166.35) and Jaiprakash Associates (down 6.95 percent at Rs.61.55).
In Asian markets, a key index of the Tokyo stock exchange, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, was down 3.81 percent at 7,745.25 points.
The Hang Seng, a key index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, also fell 0.63 percent over its last close.