Mumbai Aug 3 (IANS) Negative global cues coupled with heavy selling pressure in banking and metal stocks dragged the Indian equity markets lower on Thursday.
Stocks of banking majors like State Bank of India Axis Bank and ICICI Bank and were among the top losers on the BSE.
The wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) held on to the psychologically important 10 000-mark and provisionally closed at 10 004.35 points -- down 77.15 points or 0.77 per cent (at 3.30 p.m.).
The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE which opened at 32 502.55 points closed at 32 237.88 points -- down 238.86 points or 0.74 per cent -- from its previous close at 32 476.74 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 32 502.55 points and a low of 32 194.58 points during intra-day trade.
The BSE market breadth was bearish with 1 793 declines and 827 advances.
On Wednesday the benchmark indices were pulled lower to close on a subdued note on the back of broadly negative European markets and profit booking.
The Nifty fell by 33.15 points or 0.33 per cent to close at 10 081.50 points while the Sensex closed at 32 476.74 points -- down 98.43 points or 0.30 per cent.
--IANS
ppg/vt
