Sensex declines 180 points on profit-taking as oil recovers

The benchmark Sensex slid 180 points on Tuesday, as crude oil prices recovered and investors booked profits in banking, PSU and oil and gas sector stocks. The absence of fresh triggers and cautious sentiment before the expiry of monthly derivative contracts on Thursday and the release of GDP data on Friday also weighed on sentiment, traders said. ICICI Bank, ITC, HDFC and Reliance Industries dragged the Sensex lower. Bharti Airtel and Coal India were among the biggest losers on the index. The 30-share S&P BSE Sensex resumed steady at 20,604.27 and then declined to 20,390.62. It ended at 20,425.02, down 180.06 points or 0.87 per cent. The CNX Nifty on the National Stock Exchange fell 56.25 points, or 0.92 per cent, to end at 6,059.10. The SX40 index on the MCX Stock Exchange closed 106.90 points lower at 12,124.35.