Sensex closes 322 points down, capital goods fall (Roundup)

A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets closed Tuesday's trade 322 points or 1.15 percent down as bearish sentiments ruled due to widening of current account deficit and weak regional and European market cues.

Moreover, weak Chinese and Japanese economic data acted as catalyst to the downward selling pressure.

All sector-based indices of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) suffered due to heavy selling. Major sectors which declined included capital goods, metal, bank, automobile, consumer durables and oil and gas.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 28,134.22 points, closed at 27,797.01 points, down 322.39 points or 1.15 percent from the previous day's close at 28,119.40 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 28,157.53 points and a low of 27,763.82 points in the intra-trade.

"Today, our markets opened at unchanged levels but unexpected steep weakness in Chinese and other Asian markets triggered further bearish sentiment in the market," said Shrikant Chouhan, head- technical research, Kotak Securities.

"In fact, in the absence of or delay in positive news, flows on the reform side is making impatient to medium term and long term investors."

The S&P capital goods index lost 369.41 points; while metal index tanked by 300.12 points, bank index fell by 270.90 points, automobile index was lower by 240.94, consumer durables index went down by 207.04 points and oil and gas index slipped by 160.53 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also ended in the red. It was down by 97.55 points or 1.16 percent at 8,340.70 points.

The major Sensex gainers were: Sun Pharma, up 1.46 percent at Rs.840.90; Dr Reddy's Lab, up 1.21 percent at Rs.3,354.85; Mahindra and Mahindra, up 1.21 percent at Rs.1,266.60; and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), up 0.15 percent at Rs.2,517.45.

The major Sensex losers were: Sesa Sterlite, down 5.24 percent at Rs.220.80; ONGC, down 4.29 percent at Rs.352.35; Bharti Airtel, down 4.24 percent at Rs.354.25; Tata Power, down 4.21 percent at Rs.85.40; and NTPC, down 3.54 percent at Rs.135.05.