Mumbai: The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex Wednesday fell 0.3 per cent as investors sold shares to book profits, ending a three-day rally.
The 30-share benchmark index, which gained over 355
points in the last three days, attracted profit selling and
closed 51.87 points, or 0.3 per cent lower to 16,998.78. The
key-index moved between 17,098.79 and 16,958.41 points during
the day.
Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index
Nifty moved between 5,079.30 and 5,041.65, before ending lower
by 7.55 points at 5,054.70.
Besides profit booking, mixed Asian cues and better
European trend, kept the market volatile before ending with
moderate losses.
In the 30-BSE index stocks, 18 counters recorded losses
while 12 ended with gains.
Oil and gas, bank, capital goods, public sector
undertaking and power sector stocks acted as a drag on the
market, while metal, FMCG, IT, Realty and consumer durable
segments saved the market from a major fall.
Banking stocks led by private lender ICICI Bank fell
after HSBC Holdings Chairman Stephen Green said new rules may
reduce the amount of credit available.
The fall in the market was checked as information
technology stocks led by Wipro Ltd rose after Morgan Stanley
said the company expects increased demand for information
technology services.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 17:49