Sensex down over 80 points; auto stocks decline (Third Lead)

Following two days of consecutive heavy losses, a benchmark index of the Indian equities markets, the 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex), was again trading over 80 points in the red during the late-afternoon session on Thursday.

The Sensex of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was trading 83.14 points or 0.31 percent down.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading in the negative zone, and was down 24.45 points or 0.30 percent at 8,110.65 points.

The S&P BSE Sensex, which opened at 26,940.64 points, was trading at 26,754.06 points (at 2.35 p.m.) -- down 83.14 points or 0.31 percent from the previous day's close at 26,837.20 points.

The Sensex has touched a high of 26,948.84 points and a low of 26,551.97 points in the intra-day trade so far.

According to Angel Broking, Indian markets opened in the positive zone tracking the SGX Nifty.

The firm said Indian shares fell sharply on Wednesday on concerns around below-normal monsoon.

During Thursday's trade, healthy buying was observed in capital goods, oil and gas and information technology (IT) sectors.

However, heavy selling was observed in interest-sensitive stocks like automobile, metal, healthcare, consumer durables and banking scrip.

The S&P BSE capital goods index rose by 85.45 points, oil and gas index gained 32.76 points, and IT index increased by 16.05 points.

The S&P BSE automobile index plunged by 149.43 points, metal index went lower by 133.02 points, healthcare index tanked 117.56 points, consumer durables index fell by 84.49 points, and banking index was down by 50.44 points.