A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Tuesday ended trade 43 points or 0.21 percent lower as sentiments were hit by the US federal reserve possibly tapering of its bond buying programme.
Even the upbeat statement of Finance Minister P. Chidambram that there were signs of economic recovery on the basis of better-than-expected gross domestic product (GDP) data for the second quarter and India’s current account deficit declining to $5.2 billion from $21 billion in corresponding quarter of last year did not enthuse the market.
The 30-scrip S&P Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,857.85 points, closed at 20,854.92 points, down 43.09 points or 0.21 percent from its previous day’s close at 20,898.01 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 20,927.05 points and a low of 20,817.75 points intra-day.
The S&P BSE bank index was lower by 71.91 points, followed by fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) index was down 54.56 points and the automobile index ended Tuesday’s trade 52.69 points down.
However, BSE oil and gas index closed 43.68 points up, metal index was higher by 22.41 points and the realty index was up 16.95 points.
The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed trade 16 points or 0.26 percent down at 6,201.85 points.
Major Sensex gainers were: Gail India, up 2.97 percent at Rs.343.35; Jindal Steel, 2.70 percent at Rs.275.50; BHEL, up 2.57 percent at Rs.163.35; Hindalco Inds, up 1.64 percent at Rs.123.85; and Reliance Industries (RIL), up 0.82 percent at Rs.861.90.
The main losers were: DrReddys Lab, down 1.39 percent at Rs.2,464.10; Sesa Sterlite, down 1.36 percent at Rs.181.30; Larsen and Toubro (L&T), down 1.10 percent at Rs.1,054.80; NTPC, down 1.09 percent at Rs.145.70; and Coal India, down 1.02 percent at Rs.270.75.
Among the Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei closed 0.60 percent up and China’s Shanghai Composite Index was higher by 0.69 percent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 0.53 percent.
In Europe, London’s FTSE 100 was trading 0.81 percent down, Germany’s DAX Index was lower 1.07 percent and the French CAC 40 Index fell by 1.61 percent.