Profit booking pulls equity indices lower, banking stocks down (Lead)
According to market analysts heavy selling pressure was witnessed in banking oil and gas and metal stocks.
The indices however had openend on a positive note extending the gains made on Thursday but could not continue the bullish momentum. Investors booked profits as the indices rose over one per cent in the previous trading session.
At 1.30 p.m. the wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) traded at 10 704.75 points down 31.40 points or 0.29 per cent from the previous close of 10 736.15 points.
Similarly the barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE which had opened at 35 373.98 points traded at 35 271.72 points (1.32 p.m.) -- down 50.66 points or 0.14 per cent -- from its previous session s close of 35 322.38 points.
The Sensex has so far touched a high of 35 438.22 and a low of 35 205.83 points. The BSE market breadth was bearish with 1 872 declines against 635 advances so far.
The major gainers on the BSE were Bajaj Auto Maruti Auto Tata Motors Hero MotoCorp and Tata Motors (DVR) while ONGC Power Grid Adani Ports IndusInd Bank and State Bank of India (SBI) were the major losers.
On the NSE the top gainers were Bajaj Auto Vedanta and Maruti Suzuki while Eicher Motors Power Grid and Gail lost the most.
--IANS rrb/vm