Key Indian equity indices close lower

Weak global cues led the key Indian equity markets on Friday to provisionally close the day's trade in the red.

Heavy selling pressure was witnessed in the automobile, consumer durables and banking sectors.

The wider Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) ended at 8,170.05 points -- down 33.55 points or 0.41 per cent.

The sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 26,742.26 points, provisionally closed at 26,635.75 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- down 127.71 points or 0.48 per cent from the previous day's close at 26,763.46 points.

During the intra-day trade, the Sensex touched a high of 26,972.06 points and a low of 26,620.50 points.

The BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bears -- with 1,361 declines and 1,218 advances.

Sectorwise, the S&P BSE automobile index plunged by 186 points, followed by the consumer durables index, which declined by 81.61 points; and the banking index fell by 76.13 points.

--IANS

ppg/vt