Sensex closes 16 points down

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed 16 points down Tuesday. Realty, automobile and power stocks were the worst performers.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,176.93 points, closed at 17,086.39 points (provisional) down 0.10 percent or 16.92 points from its previous day close at 17,103.31 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange closed 0.17 percent down at 5,188.45 points.

The BSE realty index was down 24.99 points. And so were automobile index, down 130.61 points, and power index, down 26.10 points.

The major Sensex losers were: Bajaj Auto, down 2.51 percent at Rs.1,446; TCS, down 1.96 percent at Rs.1,186.45; BHEL, down 1.85 percent at Rs.225.75; Mahindra and Mahindra, down 1.66 percent at Rs.705.80; and Tata Motors, down 1.50 percent at Rs.225.85.

The major Sensex gainers were: Wipro, up 2.10 percent at Rs.363; Dr Reddys Lab, up 1.70 percent at Rs.1,704.04; ITC, up 1.55 percent at Rs.255.80; Sun Pharma, up 1.29 percent at Rs.629; and Coal India, up 0.87 percent at Rs.354.55.