A key index of the Indian equities market dipped into the red after a positive start Monday, falling about 78 points from its last closing figure, a little before noon. Around 11.40 a.m., the benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened higher at 14,830.97 points, was ruling at 14,713.93 points, 71.81 points or 0.49 percent below Monday s closing figure. Around the same time, the SP CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too was ruling in negative terrain, 0.74 percent down at 4,358.45 points. Profit booking ensued in companies with lower market capitalisation as well, with the BSE midcap index trading 0.9 percent lower and the BSE smallcap index moving down 0.33 percent. Of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE, 11 were in the red, with those for realty, auto and power scrips losing the most. The index for consumer durables and FMCG stocks were the two gainers. The market breadth was negative with 928 stocks advancing compared to 1,282 declining. Seventy-one remained unchanged. Among gainers on the Sensex at this time were Sun Pharma, up 2.69 percent at Rs.1,130; TCS, up 2 percent at Rs.393.60; Tata Steel, up 1.72 percent at Rs.404; and Tata Power, up 1.53 percent at Rs.1,169. The losers included Tata Motors, down 4.59 percent at Rs.299.45; DLF, down 3.89 percent at Rs.324.85; Jaiprakash Associates, down 3.39 percent at Rs.213.50; and Reliance Communications, down 2.74 percent at Rs.298.35. In Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo stock exchange, closed 174.97 points up to end Tuesday s trade at 9,958.44 points. The Hang Seng, a primary index of the Hong Kong stock exchange, was ruling at 18,667.3 points, up 138.79 points. US stocks posted gains Monday, led by energy companies and some optimism ahead of a big week of economic figures in the US. The price of crude oil jumped 3.4 percent to $71.49 per barrel, pushing up shares of petrol producers Exxon Mobil and Chevron. The blue-chip Dow rose 90.99 points or 1.08 percent to close at 8,529.38 points, while the broader Standard and Poor s 500 gained 8.33 points or 0.91 percent to 927.23 points. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index ended 5.84 points or 0.32 percent up to 1,844.06 points.
Source : IANS