Equity markets close lower on selling pressure

Selling pressure pulled the Indian equity markets lower on Tuesday.

Both the key indices provisionally closed in the red as heavy selling pressure was witnessed in capital goods, banking and automobile stocks.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) edged down 16.65 points or 0.19 per cent to 8,706.40 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 28,373.02 points, provisionally closed at 28,223.70 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- down 70.58 points or 0.25 per cent from the previous close at 28,294.28 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 28,432.74 points and a low of 28,179.34 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bears -- with 1,415 declines and 1,264 advances.

On Monday, the key indices had plunged on the back of negative global cues and caution ahead of F&O (futures and options) expiry.

The barometer index had receded by 373.94 points or 1.30 per cent, while the NSE Nifty declined by 108.50 points or 1.23 per cent.

--IANS

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