Sensex closes 0.29 percent lower, global cues weak (Roundup)

MUMBAI - Indian equities markets closed Tuesday on a dull note, with a key index ending trade 0.29 percent lower than its previous close with major global bourses going quiet on profit booking.

The sensitive index (Sensex) of the 30-scrip Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened the day at 17,230.86 points and shut shop at 17,131.08 points, down 0.29 percent or 49.1 points. It had closed Monday at 17,180.18 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty too ended marginally lower at 5,090.55 points against the previous close at 5,103.55 points, reflecting a loss of 0.25 percent or 13 points.

Broader market indices, however, closed with marginal gains with the BSE midcap index up 0.23 percent and the BSE small cap index shutting shop 0.36 percent higher.

The market breadth was mixed, with 1,372 stocks advancing, 1,370 declining and 87 remaining unchanged.

Sectors that saw sizeable gains were Auto and consumer durables, while FMCG and metal stocks came under selling pressure.

Among the prominent gainers on the Sensex were Maruti Suzuki, up 2.65 percent at Rs.1,599.40; M&M, up 2.42 percent at Rs.1,067.45; Bharti Airtel, up 2.25 percent at Rs.282; and Hero Honda, up 2.15 percent at Rs.1,688.10.

Some of the losers were Tata Steel, down 2.76 percent at Rs.557.40; Reliance Infra, down 2.27 percent at Rs.1,069.25; ITC, down 2.04 percent at Rs.263.65; and Sterlite Industries, down 1.88 percent at Rs.854.55.

According to markets regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors sold scrips worth $14.6 million Tuesday.

Prominent Asian markets ended in the red as profit booking kicked in.

In China, the Shanghai composite index shut shop 3.45 percent in the negative at 3,223.53 points.

A key Japanese index, the Nikkei, closed 1.01 percent or 96.1 points down at 9,401.58 points.

The Hang Seng, a benchmark index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange ended at 22,423.19 points, 1.53 percent or 348.2 points lower.

The Kospi, the benchmark index of the Korean Stock Exchange, was at 1,606.42 points, down 0.78 percent.

European markets, too, were lacklustre.

Britain’s FTSE 100 index was ruling at 5,364.55 points, up 0.17 percent, while its French peer, CAC 40, was trading 0.17 percent lower at 3,806.51 points.

The German index, DAX, was trading at 5,798.46 points, 0.05 percent below its last closing figure.