Mumbai, Feb 2 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Wednesday gave up its gains and closed on a sombre note as a late sell-off erased earlier gains.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,216.91 points, closed at 18,090.62 points, up 68.4 points or 0.38 percent from its previous close at 18,022.22 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange too shut shop dull, closing 0.27 percent up at 5,432 points.
Broader markets too ended flat with the BSE midcap index closing down 0.03 percent, while the BSE smallcap index moved up 0.08 percent.
Realty, energy and telecom stocks were among top gainers, while some power and capital goods scrips saw selling.
The market breadth was positive, with 1,421 stocks advancing compared to 1,382 scrips on the decline, while 176 stocks remained unchanged.
Among gainers on the Sensex were Tata Motors, up 3.93 percent at Rs.1,110.85; RIL, up 2.88 percent at Rs.921.40; DLF, up 2.85 percent at Rs.227.10; and Bharti Airtel, up 2.75 percent at Rs.323.25.
Losers included Hero Honda, down 5.27 percent at Rs.1,523.05; BHEL, down 2.69 percent at Rs.2,138.25; NTPC, up 2.65 percent at Rs.180.30; and Bajaj Auto, down 2.3 percent at Rs.1,217.60.
According to data available with market regulator SEBI, foreign institutional investors sold scrips worth $92.93 million Wednesday.
Other Asian stock markets were mostly trading in the green on robust corporate earnings and as economic data from the US showed that manufacturing output grew better than expected.
The Japanese Nikkei closed 1.78 percent higher at 10,457.36 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng ended 1.81 percent up at 23,908.96 points.
The Chinese markets were closed.
European markets too were trading in a slump with worries over Egypt’s political turmoil weighing heavy on investor minds.
Around mid-day, the German DAX was ruling 0.04 percent up at 7,187.27 points, while the French CAC 40 was trading 0.07 percent higher at 4,075.45 points.
The UK’s FTSE was ruling 0.88 percent up at 6,010.12 points.
