Sensex dives into red, down 83 points

NEW DELHI - A key benchmark index of the Indian equities markets plummeted Friday to rule 83 points in the red around noon as investors booked profits.

The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,199.74 points, rose more than 162 points during the morning session only to nosedive to 17,315.99 points around 12.20 p.m., down 83.34 points or 0.48 percent from its previous close at 17,189.31 points.

Around the same time, at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was at 5,168.15 points, against the previous close at 5,134.65 points, a loss of 31.8 points or 0.61 percent.

Broader market indices also went slack and were trading marginally in the red.

The market breadth was tilted towards the negative, with 1,297 stocks advancing, 1,342 scripts declining and 102 remaining unchanged.

Asian markets were in good shape Friday.

A key Japanese index, the Nikkei, closed 1.3 percent or 127.98 points up at 9,990.8 points owing to short covering by investors as futures contracts expired.

The Hang Seng, a benchmark index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, too was ruling higher at 22,069.42 points, 1.7 percent or 369.38 points down.

However, in China, the Shanghai composite index was ruling 0.19 percent in the green at 3,260.41 points.

The Kospi, the benchmark index of the Korean Stock Exchange, was similarly ruling higher at 1,654.77 points, up 0.12 percent.