By IANS,
Mumbai : Indian equities markets closed marginally lower Wednesday on weak global cues, with a key index shedding 0.3 percent over its previous close.
The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 9,462.14 points, lost 28.93 points or 0.3 percent from its previous close to end trade at 9,618.54 points.
However, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) gained 0.3 percent to close at 2,925.7 points.
The BSE midcap index was up 0.37 percent, while the BSE smallcap index gained 0.25 percent over its previous close.
Of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE, auto and consumer durables gained the most, while metal and healthcare stocks were down.
The overall market sentiment was mixed with 1,263 stocks advancing, 1,138 scrips declining and 106 remaining unchanged.
Top gainers among the scrips on the Sensex included Maruti Suzuki (up 4 percent at Rs.632.55), ACC (up 2.64 percent at Rs.558.15), Jaiprakash Associates (up 2.47 percent at Rs.76.70) and Tata Power (up 1.81 percent at Rs.807.95).
Among the major gainers on the BSE were IFCI (up 9.05 percent at Rs.21.70) and Renuka Sugar (up 9.03 percent at Rs.85.10).
There was buying interest in Maytas Infra’s shares for the first time in a month after reports came in that Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (ILFS), which currently holds 20 percent in the company, is looking to acquire control of it. The scrip closed 4.92 percent higher than its Tuesday close at Rs.54.35.
Losers on the Sensex were Ranbaxy Laboratories (down 5 percent at Rs.221.20), Grasim Industries (down 4.07 percent at Rs. 1,359.75), Reliance Infra (down 3.73 percent at Rs.541.50) and Tata Steel (down 3.38 percent at Rs.190.30).
BSE’s major losers were Zee Entertainment (down 12 percent at Rs.114.05), Spice Tele (down 6.49 percent at Rs.52.55) and Indiabulls (down 4.96 percent at Rs.113.90).
In other Asian markets, a key Japanese index, the Nikkei of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed at 7,945.94 points, 0.29 percent lower than its previous close.
The Hang Seng, a key index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, ended 2.46 percent below its last close.
European markets opened weak with the FTSE index in Britain ruling 0.08 percent lower than its previous close.