Sensex falls 29 points; hits lowest level in 2013

Mumbai  : A benchmark index for Indian equities markets fell 29 points Friday to hit the lowest level in 2013 due to selling pressure in oil and gas, IT and capital goods stocks.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the negative at 19,449.83 points, ended the day at 19,468.15 points, down 0.15 percent or 29.03 points from its previous day close at 19497.18 points.

The Sensex hit a high of 19,512.89 points and a low of 19,381.82 points in the intra-day. This is the lowest closing level of the country’s benchmark index since the beginning of this year.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange closed 0.16 percent or 9.55 points down at 19,381.82 points.

There was selling pressure in oil and gas, IT, consumer durables and capital goods stocks.

The BSE oil and gas index fell 0.83 percent. The IT index declined 0.58 percent, while the healthcare index fell 0.30 percent, followed by the consumer durables index, down 0.14 percent, and the capital goods index, down 0.13 percent.

Dr Reddy’s Lab slumped 3.55 percent at Rs.1,811.50 after reporting disappointing quarterly numbers.

Other major Sensex losers were: Bajaj Auto, down 1.41 percent at Rs.1,974; Tata Steel, down 1.21 percent at Rs.375.95; RIL, down 1.20 percent at Rs.844.85; Infosys, down 0.99 percent at Rs.2,785.20; and Jindal Steel, down 0.96 percent at Rs.386.30.

Thirteen of the 30 Sensex scrips closed in the positive.

Tata Motors, up 2.48 percent at Rs.304.05; Tata Power, up 1.79 percent at Rs.96.70; Bharti Airtel, up 1.23 percent at Rs.316.25; Sterlite Inds, up 1.22 percent at Rs.99.25; and Gail India, up 0.99 percent at Rs.337.65 were among the major Sensex gainers.