BSE Sensex falls over 134 points, dips below the 26,000-mark

Mumbai :The benchmark BSE Sensex fell over 134 points to dip below the 26,000-mark in early trade today on the last trading session of the Samvat Year 2071, extending losses for the fifth consecutive day on increased capital outflows amid a weakening trend in global markets.

Besides, muted Q2 earnings posted by some bluechip companies dampened sentiments.

The 30-share index dropped by 134.27 points, or 0.51 per cent, at 25,987.13 with metal, oil & gas, IT, tech, PSU and banking sector stocks, leading the slide.

The gauge had cumulatively lost 469.19 points in last four sessions.

In a similar fashion, the broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty slipped below the 7,900-level by losing 58.15 points, 0.73 per cent, at 7,857.05.

Brokers said sentiments remained bearish on sustained foreign fund outflows and a weak trend at other Asian markets, tracking overnight losses at the US markets as poor Chinese data and a fall in crude oil prices weighed on the market.

Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was down 0.85 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei shed 0.75 per cent in early trade today. Shanghai Composite index dropped 0.81 per cent.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1 per cent lower in yesterday’s trade.

The rupee rose by 5 paise at 66.39 against the US dollar in early trade today on fresh selling of the American currency by exporters.

Besides, weakness in the dollar against other currencies supported the rupee, forex dealers said.

However, a lower opening in the domestic equity market, capped the gains, they added.

The rupee had tumbled by 68 paise at nearly 8-week low of 66.44 against the US dollar yesterday at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market on persistent demand for the American currency from some banks and importers amidst sharp fall in equities.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex dipped below the 26,000-mark by falling 134.27 points, or 0.51 per cent, at 25,987.13 in early trade.

PTI