Markets dull, Sensex closes 62 points lower
Mumbai: A benchmark index of the Indian equities market on Tuesday closed 62 points lower on a volatile trading day, even though cues from other Asian markets remained strong.
The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,617.38 points, closed at 20,498.72 points, down 62.33 points or 0.3 percent from its previous close at 20,561.05 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty shut shop at 6,146.35 points, down 0.18 percent or 11.25 points.
Broader markets also ended lackluster, with the BSE midcap index ending 0.29 percent down and the BSE smallcap index closing 0.14 percent lower.
FMCG, oil and gas and healthcare stocks saw good buying while banking and realty scrips came under selling pressure.
The market breadth was mixed, with 1,424 stocks advancing, compared to 1,482 scrips on the decline, while 143 stocks were unchanged.
Among the gainers on the Sensex were Hindustan Unilever, up 2.54 percent at Rs.321.05; Reliance Industries, up 2.12 percent at Rs.1,076.55; ITC, up 1.78 percent at Rs.177.45; and Reliance Infra, up 1.7 percent at Rs.877.15.
The losers were ICICI Bank, down 3.45 percent at Rs.1,104.10; Bajaj Auto, down 3.12 percent at Rs.1,430.55; SBI, down 3.09 percent at Rs.2,733.60; and Reliance Com, down 2.5 percent at Rs.144.20.
According to data available with SEBI, foreign institutional investors bought scrips worth $95.71 million Tuesday.
Other major bourses in Asia continued to rally with trader optimism in the New Year still fuelling buying activity.
The Japanese Nikkei index closed 1.65 percent higher at 10,398.1 points, while the Chinese Shanghai Composite index moved up 1.59 percent at 2,852.65 points.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng was trading 0.99 percent higher at 23,668.48 points.
European markets were mixed with traders adopting a cautious stance as the euro-zone debt crisis remained unresolved.
Around mid-day, the German DAX was trading 0.35 percent higher at 7,014.01 points, while the French CAC 40 was ruling 0.92 percent up at 3,936.7 points.
The UK's FTSE was up 2.34 percent at 6,037.76 points.
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