Mumbai, Jan 19 (Inditop.com) A benchmark index of Indian equities shut shop 155 points lower Tuesday amid weak global cues and selling pressure on heavyweights Reliance Industries and Infosys.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,650.82 points, closed at 17,486.06 points, down 155.02 points or 0.88 percent from its previous close at 17,641.08 points.
Reliance Industries, Infosys and HDFC added to the drag on the Sensex.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended at 5,225.65 points, against the previous close at 5,274.85 points, a loss of 0.93 percent.
Selling pressure hit broader markets as well with the BSE midcap index ending 0.63 percent lower and the BSE small cap index 0.56 percent down.
The market breadth was negative with 1,112 stocks advancing compared to 1,828 declining while 54 stocks remained unchanged.
Among major gainers were BHEL, up 0.86 percent at Rs.2,396.90; SBI, up 0.76 percent at Rs.2,172.90; HDFC Bank, up 0.61 percent at Rs.1,778.30; and Sterlite Industries, up 0.24 percent at Rs.869.10.
Top losers included ACC, down 3.09 percent at Rs.952.85; Hindalco, down 2.63 percent at Rs.162.85; TCS, down 2.38 percent at Rs.780.60; and Grasim Industries, down 2.34 percent at Rs.2,721.70.
Data with markets watchdog Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) showed that foreign funds were net buyers Tuesday, having bought scrips worth $64.54 million.
Other Asian markets ended on a mixed note, with the benchmark Japanese index, Nikkei, ending 0.83 percent lower at 10,764.9 points as traders chose to book profits.
The Hang Seng of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange closed 1.02 percent higher at 21,677.98 points, while the Chinese Shanghai composite index shut 0.3 percent higher at 3,246.87 points, with banking stocks leading the rally.
However, the Korean Kospi ended flat at 1,710.22, down 0.09 percent.
European markets were trading with a negative bias.
The FTSE 100 index, the benchmark index of the London Stock Exchange, was ruling 0.89 percent lower at 5,445.36 points, while the French index, CAC 40, was down 0.78 percent at 3,946.37 points.
Its German peer, the DAX, was ruling 0.88 percent lower at 5,866.21 points.
