Mumbai Sep 22 (IANS) Key Indian equity indices -- the BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty50 -- descended by almost one per cent each during the mid-afternoon trade session on Friday as weak Asian markets on the back of geo-political risks and depreciation of the rupee subdued investors sentiments.
Heavy selling pressure in banking capital goods and consumer durables stocks aided in the downslide of the indices.
The wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) slipped below the psychologically important 10 000-mark intra-day which was reclaimed on September 11. It touched a low of 9 992.15 points during intra-day trade.
Around 1.15 p.m. it traded at 10 011.05 points -- down 110.85 points or 1.10 per cent.
The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE which opened at 32 339.50 points traded at 32 075.72 points -- down 294.32 points or 0.91 per cent from its previous close at 32 370.04 points.
The Sensex has so far touched a high of 32 342.81 points and a low of 32 023.37 during intra-day trade.
The BSE market breadth was bearish with 1 876 declines and 571 advances.
"Stocks in Asia dropped after a report that North Korea threatened with a hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific in response to fresh sanctions " said Dhruv Desai Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls.
"The Indian rupee weakened past 65-mark against the US dollar. Pharma stocks rose in early trade led by Dr. Reddy s Sun Pharma and Cipla whereas shares of ICICI Bank Tata Steel and Hindustan Unilever fell " he added.
On Thursday caution over a US Federal Reserve rate-hike in December coupled with a weak rupee and profit booking by investors pulled the benchmark indices lower to close in the red.
The Nifty50 fell by 19.25 points or 0.19 per cent to close at 10 121.90 points while the Sensex closed at 32 370.04 points -- down 30.47 points or 0.09 per cent.
--IANS
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