Mumbai April 12 (IANS) Profit booking ahead of the fourth quarter results season and the upcoming macro-economic data points depressed the Indian equity markets on Wednesday.
Besides rising geo-political tensions and volatile rupee movement against the US dollar eroded investors appetite for risk taking.
The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) dipped by 33.55 points or 0.36 per cent to 9 203.45 points.
The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE closed lower by 144.87 points or 0.49 per cent.
The S&P BSE Sensex which opened at 29 838.82 points closed at 29 643.48 points from Tuesday s close at 29 788.35 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 29 838.82 points and a low of 29 549.74 points during the intra-day trade.
The BSE market breadth was bearish -- with 1 756 declines and 1 114 advances.
Similarly broader markets ended the day s trade on a lower note. The S&P BSE mid-cap index fell by 0.22 per cent while the small-cap index closed lower by 0.49 per cent.
Markets ended lower on Wednesday after a volatile session reversing some of the previous day s gains Deepak Jasani Head - Retail Research HDFC Securities told IANS.
Investors indulged in profit taking ahead of the IIP and CPI numbers due on Wednesday evening and beginning of the earnings season tomorrow.
India s Central Statistics Office (CSO) will release the macro-economic data points -- Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) -- after the market hours on Wednesday.
In terms of quarterly results IT major Infosys is expected to be the first blue chip firm to come out with its Q4 results on April 13 Thursday.
Major Asian markets have ended on a mixed note. European indices like FTSE 100 DAX and CAC 40 were trading higher Jasani said.
According to Anand James Chief Market Strategist Geojit Financial Services while Asian markets shrugged off negative cues from geo-political tensions the southern China integration plans shored up sentiments helping Indian stocks to recover from early losses.
Commenting on the sector specific movement Dhruv Desai Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls said that pharma sector stocks witnessed healthy upside momentum during the trade session lead by Sun Pharma and Glenmark.
Along with pharma realty remained top performing sector on positive side Desai pointed out.
Sector-wise the S&P BSE consumer durables index plunged by 157.14 points the automobile index receded by 101.05 points and the metal index edged lower by 77.81 points.
On the other hand healthcare index surged by 95.23 points.
Major Sensex gainers on Wednesday were: Sun Pharma up 1.83 per cent at Rs 682.80; Hero MotoCorp up 0.77 per cent at Rs 3 226.15; Lupin up 0.74 per cent at Rs 1 439; Bajaj Auto up 0.55 per cent at Rs 2 837.95; and Dr Reddy s Lab up 0.48 per cent at Rs 2 642.80.
Major Sensex losers were: Tata Steel down 2.12 per cent at Rs 477.95; Adani Ports down 2.06 per cent at Rs 327.55; Wipro down 1.76 per cent at Rs 501; Gail down 1.72 per cent at Rs 378.10; and Tata Motors down 1.60 per cent at Rs 465.20.
--IANS
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Profit bookings, caution ahead of Q4 results depress equities (Roundup)
