Sensex down 64 points before key Q3, inflation data

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets ended fell 64 points or 0.31 percent Monday as investors were cautious ahead of quarterly results of companies and key inflation data.

Selling pressure was seen in banking and IT sectors, while marginal good buying was observed in healthcare sector.

The 30-scrip S&P Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,913.79 points, closed at 20,787.30 points, down 64.03 points or 0.31 percent from its previous day close at 20,851.33 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 20,913.79 points and a low of 20,721.98 points intra-day.

The S&P BSE bankex fell by 143.73 points and IT index dropped by 45.44 points. However, healthcare index gained 48.22 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed trade at 19.70 points or 0.32 percent down at 6,191.45 points.

Major Sensex gainers were: ONGC, up 1.92 percent at Rs.281.10; Sun Pharma, up 1.41 percent at Rs.588.15 and Tata Motors, up 1.14 percent at Rs.366.85.

Major Sensex losers were: Tata Power, down 2.56 percent at Rs.81.90; ICICI Bank, down 2.46 percent at Rs.1,040.70 and State Bank of India, down 1.66 percent at Rs.1,687.65.

Among the Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 2.35 percent down; Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down by 0.29 percent, and China's Shanghai Composite Index was down by 1.80 percent.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was trading 0.02 percent up, while Germany's DAX Index was up 0.28 percent and the French CAC 40 Index was higher by 0.15 percent.