Mumbai, Feb 19 (Inditop.com) A benchmark index for Indian equities Friday slipped back into the red to close 136 points lower amid a slump in global bourses.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,256.53 points, shut shop at 16,191.63 points, down 136.21 points or 0.83 percent from its previous close.
RIL, SBI and ICICI Bank were among the main contributors to the weakness in the Sensex.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended at 4,844.9 points, against the previous close at 4,887.75 points, a loss of 0.88 percent or 42.85 points.
Broader markets were also in the red with the BSE midcap index closing 1.41 percent down and the BSE small cap index ending 1.57 percent lower.
The market breadth was negative, with 796 stocks advancing, 2,018 on the decline and 65 remaining unchanged.
There were only four gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex: HDFC Bank, up 0.94 percent at Rs.1,699.55; Maruti Suzuki, up 0.63 percent at Rs.1,370.30; ONGC, up 0.59 percent at Rs.1,105.65; and HDFC, up 0.51 percent at Rs.2,487.70.
Top losers included Jaiprakash Associates, down 4.35 percent at Rs.129.65; DLF, down 4.1 percent at Rs.291.30; Reliance Communications, down 3.37 percent at Rs.161.80; and Sterlite Industries, down 2.95 percent at Rs.745.85.
According to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors were net sellers Friday, having sold scrips worth $6.25 million.
Other Asian markets were in the red too.
The benchmark Japanese index, Nikkei, slipped 2.05 percent to close at 10,123.58 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed 2.58 percent in the red at 19,894.26 points.
The South Korean Kospi too closed lower, dipping 1.68 percent to 1,593.9 points.
Chinese exchanges will reopen Monday after the week-long Lunar New Year holiday.
European benchmark indices were in the red after the US Federal Reserve’s decision of raising lending rates to banks made investors nervous.
The FTSE 100, the benchmark index of the London Stock Exchange, was ruling 0.35 percent lower at 5,306.41 points, while its German peer DAX was trading at 5,654.16 points, down 0.46 percent.
The French CAC 40 index was also ruling lower at 3,724.19 points, down 0.63 percent.
