Mumbai, Feb 18 (Inditop.com) A benchmark index for Indian equities Thursday closed 112 points in the red, after logging gains for two consecutive days.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,421.2 points, shut shop at 16,316.28 points (provisional), down 112.63 points or 0.69 percent from its previous close.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was at 4,883.95 points, against the previous close at 4,914 points, a loss of 0.61 percent or 30.05 points.

Broader market indices were also ruling in the red, with the BSE midcap index down 0.62 percent and the BSE small cap index trading 0.38 percent lower.

Other Asian markets too closed on a subdued note.

The benchmark Japanese index, Nikkei, managed to crawl up 0.3 percent to close at 10,335.69 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng ended 0.54 percent in the red at 20,422.15 points.

The South Korean Kospi too closed lower, slipping 0.38 percent to 1,621.19 points.

Chinese exchanges will reopen Monday after the week-long Lunar New Year holiday.

European benchmark indices, which opened on a weak note continued to struggle as trading progressed.