Equity indices close lower; auto stocks fall

Amid volatility, the key Indian equity indices provisionally closed in the red on Thursday.

According to analysts, heavy selling pressure was witnessed on auto, capital goods and consumer durables stocks.

At 3.30 p.m., the wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) provisionally closed at 10,741.10 points, down 30.95 points or 0.29 per cent from the previous close of 10,772.05 points.

Similarly, the BSE Sensex, which had opened at 35,644.05 points, closed at 35,432.39 points (3.30 p.m.) -- down 114.94 points or 0.32 per cent -- from its previous session's close of 35,547.33 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 35,678.69 points and a low of 35,396.97 points. The BSE market breadth was bearish with 1,764 declines against 830 advances.

The top gainers on the Sensex were ICICI Bank, Reliance Industries, HDFC, Tata Motors and Infosys, whereas Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M), ONGC, Power Grid, State Bank of India and Sun Pharma were the major losers.

On the NSE, Indian oil Corporation, BPCL and Hindustan Petroleum were the highest gainers while M&M, Bharti Infratel and Dr Reddy's Lab lost the most.

--IANS

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