Sensex ends in red; metal stocks down (Roundup)

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Thursday trade in the red as metal and capital goods stocks dipped.

This is the first time in nine trading sessions that the Sensex has made losses. In five out of nine consecutive sessions when Sensex made gains, the benchmark index touched new highs.

Heavy selling pressure was observed in stocks of metal, capital goods, realty, bank, and oil and gas. However, healthy buying was sustained in healthcare, automobile, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and consumer durables sector.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,164.95 points, closed the day's trade at 27,085.93 points, down 54.01 points or 0.20 percent from the previous day's close at 27,139.94 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 27,169.12 points and a low of 26,972.39 points in the intra-trade.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also ended in the red at 18.65 points or 0.23 percent down at 8,095.95 points.

The S&P BSE metal index lost 190.11 points, capital goods index was lower by 155.20 points, realty index was down 80.70, bank index dipped 76 points, and oil and gas stocks fell 61.03 points.

However, healthcare index was up 66.77 points, FMCG index rose 19.24 points, automobile index was higher by 18.80 points and consumer durables index gained by 12.85 points.

The major Sensex gainers were: Bajaj Auto, up 3.25 percent at Rs.2,301.65; NTPC, up 1.93 percent at Rs.142.40; Hero MotoCorp, up 1.83 percent at Rs.2,825.95; HDFC, up 1.51 percent at Rs.1,077.65; and Axis Bank, up 0.74 percent at Rs.416.65.

The losers were: BHEL, down 4.44 percent at Rs.227; Hindalco Inds, down 3.40 percent at Rs.169.20; Tata Steel, down 3.14 percent at Rs.509.25; Tata Motors, down 1.88 percent at Rs.512.85; and Gail, down 1.60 percent at Rs.448.

In Asian markets, Nikkei closed 0.33 percent down, while Hong Kong's Hang Sang closed 0.08 percent lower, and China's Shanghai Composite index higher by 0.80 percent.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was up 0.22 percent, Germany's DAX Index was 0.29 percent lower, and France's CAC 40 was marginally rose by 0.08 percent.