Weak domestic cues pull Indian equities lower

Indian equities markets were pulled lower on Wednesday on the back of weak domestic cues.

Disappointing domestic services data for December and a lack of consensus at the GST council meet subdued investors' sentiments.

The key indices provisionally closed on a flat note -- marginally in the red, as banking, finance and energy stocks witnessed heavy selling pressure.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) inched down by 1.75 points or 0.02 per cent to 8,190.50 points.

The barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 26,677.22 points, provisionally closed at 26,618.67 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- down 24.57 points or 0.09 per cent from the previous day's close at 26,643.24 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,723.37 points and a low of 26,606.06 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bulls -- with 1,575 advances and 1,161 declines.

On Tuesday, positive global indices, along with value buying and short covering, buoyed the benchmark indices.

The barometer index was up by 47.79 points or 0.18 per cent, while the NSE Nifty was up by 12.75 points or 0.16 per cent to 8,192.25 points.

--IANS

ppg/vm