Sensex tanks 350 points, consumer durables stocks fall (Roundup)

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Thursday closed the day's trade 350 points or 1.33 percent down, due to negative global cues surrounding weak global economic recovery.

All sector-based indices of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) ended in red. Most negatively effected were consumer durables, automobile, capital goods, metal and banks stocks which plunged the most.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P BSE, which opened at 26,260.35 points, ended at 25,999.34 points, down 349.99 points or 1.33 percent from the previous day's close at 26,349.33 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,462.08 points and a low of 25,933.98 points in the intra-trade.

Sector-wise the S&P BSE consumer durables index was down 405.05 points, followed by automobile index which was lower by 359.91 points. Capital goods index plunged 294.66 points, metal index fell by 253.38 points, bank index decreased by 223.85 points, oil and gas index declined by 202.55 points and healthcare index slipped 197.92 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also closed in red. It fell 115.80 points or 1.47 percent at 7,748.20 points.

The major Sensex gainers were: ITC, up 1.48 percent at Rs.352.70; Coal India, up 1.34 percent at Rs.348.85; Gail, up 0.74 percent at Rs.450.90; and Cipla, up 0.13 percent at Rs.579.

The losers were: Hindalco Inds, down 5.46 percent at Rs.142.90; Mahindra and Mahindra, down 4.41 percent at Rs.1,218.85; Sesa Sterlite, down 4.09 percent at Rs.239.35; Tata Steel, down 3.57 percent at Rs.439.85; and Tata Power, down 3.29 percent at Rs.83.85.

Among the Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 2.22 percent down, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 1.03 percent. Shanghai Composite Index, too, was lower by 0.72 percent.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was trading 1.69 percent down. Germany's DAX Index was lower by 1.69 percent and the French CAC 40 Index declined by 2.45 percent at the closing bell here.