Sensex languishes in afternoon trade

MUMBAI - A benchmark index of Indian equities was ruling dull in highly range-bound trade Friday afternoon, although buying was seen in broader markets.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,334.14 points, was ruling at 20,228.66 points, down 31.92 points or 0.16 percent from its previous close at 20,260.58 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was trading at 6,082.55 points, down 0.31 percent.

Broader markets were, however, in the green. The BSE midcap index was ruling 0.32 percent higher while the BSE smallcap index moved up 0.51 percent.

IT and telecom stocks led the gainers list, while realty, FMCG and metals were among the major losers.

Top Sensex gainers at this time were TCS, Reliance Com, Infosys and RIL.

Among losers were Wipro, HDFC, Sterlite Industries and DLF.

Other Asian markets were mixed as China, the second largest economy in the world, reported a slowdown in growth, triggering fears of lower contribution to the world economic recovery.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was ruling 0.23 lower at 23,595.37 points, while the Japanese Nikkei closed 0.54 percent up at 9,426.71 points.

The Shanghai Composite index was trading at 2,975.04, down 0.28 percent.

European markets slipped on opening as investors waited for more news from the corporate earnings season.