Sensex closes flat, auto, metals stocks decline

Mumbai  :  A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Monday closed flat in cautious trade ahead of the US elections. Auto, metal and capital goods stocks declined, tracking weakness in global markets.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened lower at 18,749.37 points, closed at 18,762.87 points, up 0.04 percent or 7.42 points from its previous day’s close at 18,755.45 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 18,794.63 points and a low of 18,683.25 points in intra-day trade.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also closed flat trading 0.11 percent or 6.50 points lower at 5,704.20 points.

The BSE auto index was down 50.90 points. Also down were the metals index, by 49.32 points, and the capital goods index, by 25.73 points. However, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) index was up 61.41 points, while health care was up 28.79 points and bank index up 13.83 points.

Major Sensex gainers were ITC, up 1.64 percent at Rs.288.30; Dr Reddys Lab, up 1.36 percent at Rs.1,794.70; Maruti Suzuki, up 0.89 percent at Rs.1,479.75; Cipla, up 0.87 percent at Rs.380.45; and BHEL, up 0.76 percent at Rs.230.90.

The main losers were Hindalco Inds, down 2.55 percent at Rs.114.70; Jindal Steel, down 2.04 percent at Rs.380.90; Bajaj Auto, down 2.02 percent at Rs.1,860.25; Tata Power, down 0.94 percent at Rs.105.50; and Tata Steel, down 0.93 percent at Rs.397.85.

Asian markets were down following the US markets where investors looked cautious ahead of elections in the world’s number one economy Tuesday.

Japan’s Nikkei was down 0.48 percent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was lower by 0.47 percent. Shanghai Composite Index was down 0.14 percent.

European markets were also in red. London’s FTSE 100 was down 0.63 percent, Germany’s DAX down 0.65 percent and France’s CAC 40 was down 1.00 percent.

Photo  : AFP