Sensex slips in last session, ends with 50 points loss

Selling in the last hour of trading pulled down a benchmark index for Indian equities Tuesday 50 points lower on negative cues from European bourses.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,918.43 points, closed at 17,878.14 points, 50.28 points or 0.28 percent down from its previous close at 17,928.42 points.

It had earlier breached the 18,000 mark, gaining 111.75 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty also ended flat at 5,395.8 points, up 0.17 percent from its previous close at 5,386.45 points.

Broader markets indices were quiet, with the BSE midcap index 0.3 percent up and the BSE smallcap index 0.26 percent higher.

Realty did well, while some buying was seen in metal scrips. Healthcare, auto and banking stocks came under selling pressure.

The market breadth was negative, with 1,280 scrips advancing, compared to 1,631 stocks declining, and 118 remaining unchanged.

Among the gainers on the Sensex were DLF, up 2.01 percent at Rs.321.50; Sterlite Industries, up 1.53 percent at Rs.166.10; Wipro, up 0.93 percent at Rs.407.70; and L&T, up 0.53 percent at Rs.1,902.20.

Prominent losers included Jaiprakash Associates, down 1.74 percent at Rs.127; Tata Motors, down 1.57 percent at Rs.812.50; Reliance Communications, down 1.52 percent at Rs.188.35; and HDFC, down 1.24 percent at Rs.3,012.95.

Trading at other major Asian markets was mixed. The Japanese Nikkei closed 1.15 percent lower at 9,300.46 points as technology shares bore the brunt of selling.

The South Korean Kospi ended with a modest gain of 0.28 percent at 1,736.7 points.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 0.86 percent at 20,264.59 points, tracking late gains in US markets Monday.

The Chinese Shanghai Composite index ended 2.15 percent higher at 2,528.73 points on reports that the government may allow qualified institutional investors a higher trading quota in stock-index futures.

The European markets, which started trade on a dull note, were all down.

The FTSE was trading 5,125.32 points, down 0.45 percent, while the French CAC 40 was ruling 1.07 percent lower at 3,448.86 points.

Its German peer the DAX was ruling 0.94 percent down at 5,952.67 points.