Sensex ends 72 points down; consumer durables fall (Fifth Lead)

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Thursday closed 72.06 points or 0.28 percent down in volatile trade after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented his maiden budget to parliament.

The markets seesawed up-down as the finance minister proceeded reading out his proposals.

The markets initially fell around 180 points, wiping off the early gains. However, they recovered smartly and were back in green after the announcement of tax sops to revive the manufacturing and housing sectors. The benchmark index then jumped by more than one percent or 200 points.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,513.74 points, closed trade at 25,372.75 points (provisional), down 72.06 points or 0.28 percent from the previous day's close at 25,444.81 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 25,920.46 points and a low of 25,117 points in the trade so far.

In Thursday's trade, heavy selling pressure was observed in consumer durables, automobile and bank sector. Meanwhile, scrips of metal, realty and capital goods stocks grew.

The S&P BSE consumer durables index tanked 271.30 points, followed by automobile index which slipped 140.27 points and bank index decreased by 107.21 points.

However, the metal index was up 120.59 points, realty index grew by 95.03 and capital goods index gained by 28.67 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange closed 17.25 points or 0.23 percent down at 7,567.75.