A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Friday 0.38 percent or 67 points down after bank, capital goods and metals stocks came under intense selling pressure.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,790.25 points, closed 17,783.21 points, 0.38 percent or 67.01 points lower from its previous day’s close at 17,790.25 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 17,822.50 points and a low of 17,725.42 points in intra-day trade.
The BSE bank index was down 129.80 points followed by the capital goods index, down 79.08 points, and metals index, down 59.56 points.
“Indian markets ended marginally lower on Friday with losses of about 0.5 percent. Weak global markets marred sentiments,” said Kishore P. Ostwal, chairman and managing director, CNI Research.
The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange closed 0.53 percent or 28.65 points up at 5,386.70 points.
The main Sensex losers were Tata Steel, down 2.73 percent or 10.90 points at Rs.387.70; Jindal Steel, down 2.33 percent or 9.50 points at Rs.397.65, Hindalco Inds, down 1.99 percent or 2.25 points at Rs.110.95, ICICI Bank, down 1.79 percent or 17.45 points at Rs.955.70 and RIL, down 1.55 percent or 12.35 points at Rs.782.10.
The major Sensex gainers were Coal India, up 2.26 percent or 8.10 points at Rs.366.90; ONGC, up 1.95 percent or 5.50 points at Rs.287.10; Cipla, up 0.88 percent or 3.20 points at Rs.366.90; Maruti Suzuki, up 0.88 percent or 10.35 points at Rs.1,190.25 and Sterlite Inds, up 0.63 percent or 0.70 points at Rs.112.25.
Among other Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei closed down 1.17 percent while Shanghai’s composite index closed 0.99 percent lower. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed down 1.25 percent.
At closing bell here, European markets were in the red too. France’s CAC was down 0.53 percent. Germany’s DAX and Britain’s FTSE 100 were lower by 0.48 percent and 0.38 percent respectively.