Mumbai, June 1 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities Tuesday extended its losses in afternoon trade and was ruling 169 points lower than its previous close.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,942.82 points, was ruling at 16,774.65 points, 169.98 points or 1 percent down from its previous close at 16,944.63 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 5,031.45 points, down 1.08 percent from its previous close.
Broader markets indices were mixed, with the BSE midcap index ruling 0.06 percent up and the BSE smallcap index 0.38 percent higher.
Banking and metal stocks were under selling pressure, while scrips of healthcare firms were among the gainers.
Among other Asian markets, the Japanese Nikkei ended 0.58 percent lower at 9,711.83 points amid political uncertainty as members of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan have started clamouring for Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s resignation.
Caution was the flavour in other markets.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was ruling at 19,639.14, down 0.64 percent, while the Shanghai composite index lost 0.92 percent to close at 2,568.28 points.
The South Korean Kospi was also ruling in the red at 1,630.4 points, down 0.66 percent.
