Equities close marginally lower; Nifty50 at fresh intra-day high

Broadly negative global cues, along with profit booking in metals, consumer durables and healthcare stocks, led the key Indian equity indices to provisionally close on a flat-to-negative note on Tuesday.

The wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) touched a fresh high of 10,178.95 points during intra-day trade, but failed to sustain that level.

At 3.30 p.m., the Nifty50 provisionally closed at 10,147.55 points -- marginally lower by 5.55 points or 0.05 per cent.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 32,522.44 points, closed at 32,402.37 points -- down 21.39 points, or 0.07 per cent, from its previous close at 32,423.76 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 32,524.11 points and a low of 32,358.63 points during intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was bearish with 1,311 declines and 1,293 advances.

According to market observers, investors were cautious ahead of the two-day US Federal Reserve meeting slated for later in the evening (India time).

However, healthy buying in automobile and oil and gas stocks pared some losses.

On Monday, the Nifty50 closed at a new record high as positive global cues, along with persistent pumping in of funds by domestic investors (DIIs) lifted investors' sentiments.

The Nifty50 closed at a fresh high of 10,153.10 points, while the Sensex rose by 151.15 points, or 0.47 per cent, to close at 32,423.76 points.

--IANS

ppg/vm