Markets fall as earnings fail to impress

The Nifty fell nearly one per cent on Thursday, marking its biggest single-day fall in nearly 2-1/2 weeks, weighed down by foreign investors' sales after earnings at blue-chips such as Maruti Suzuki failed to impress markets. Foreign investors sold cash shares worth $63.4 million on Wednesday, marking their first sales in 10 days. The broader Nifty fell 0.9 per cent, or 70.10 points, to end at 7,721.30, retreating from a record 7,840.95 points on July 25. The benchmark Sensex lost 0.74 per cent, or 192.45 points, to end at 25,894.97. Maruti Suzuki fell 1.1 per cent after company's April-June operating margin at 11.7 per cent lagged some analysts' estimates.