Mumbai, Aug 3 (IANS) Indian equities markets Tuesday took a breather after rising substantially in the previous sessions, but a key index managed to hold on to the 18,000-level.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,149.9 points, closed at 18,114.83 points, 33.62 points or 0.19 percent up from its previous close at 18,081.21 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended 0.15 percent up at 5,439.55 points.
Broader markets indices were also in the green with the BSE midcap index 0.31 percent up and the BSE smallcap index 0.33 percent higher.
Banking, oil and gas, and healthcare scrips were on the rise, while FMCG, capital goods and IT led the losing stocks.
The market breadth was positive, with 1,507 scrips advancing, compared to 1,430 stocks declining, and 118 remaining unchanged.
Among the gainers on the Sensex were Bharti Airtel, up 3.35 percent at Rs.328.65; ICICI Bank, up 2.38 percent at Rs.962.10; Hero Honda, up 1.79 percent at Rs.1,858; and RIL, up 1.15 percent at Rs.1,026.20.
Among the major losers were Reliance Communications, down 2.3 percent at Rs.174.45; L&T, down 1.47 percent at Rs.1,785.50; ITC, down 1.46 percent at Rs.154.10, and M&M, down 1.14 percent at Rs.652.85.
Financial and commodity stocks led the gainers on other Asian markets, which were mostly in the green. However, in China, traders booked profits, taking advantage of a recent rally which pushed up valuations.
The Japanese Nikkei closed 1.29 percent higher at 9,694.01 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 0.21 percent at 21,457.66 points.
The Chinese Shanghai Composite index ended trade at 2,627 points, down 1.7 percent from its previous close.
European markets slipped into the negative around closing bell here, as consolidation set in after Monday’s rally.
The FTSE was trading 0.37 percent lower at 5,377.15 points, while the German DAX was ruling 0.19 percent down at 6,280.23 points.
The French CAC 40 was ruling 0.43 percent lower at 3,736.05 points.
