Sensex closes in red; auto stocks dip

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Friday closed the day's trade down 54.15 points or 0.20 percent as automobile stocks dipped.

Healthy buying was observed in capital goods, information technology (IT), healthcare and metal sectors, while selling pressure was seen in banking and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,127.26 points, closed trade at 27,031.78 points (provisional), down 54.15 points or 0.20 percent from the previous day's close at 27,085.93 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 27,178.80 points and a low of 26,920.56 points in the intra-trade.

The S&P BSE automobile index fell by 116.68 points, bank index dropped by 42.79 points and FMCG index slipped by 21.31 points. However, capital goods index gained by 135.94 points, IT index was up 82.73 points, healthcare index was higher 56.44 points and metal index moved up 41.65 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also closed in red. It ended the day's trade 9.10 points or 0.11 percent down at 8,086.85 points.