Sensex trims initial losses, still down 313 points

Mumbai: The benchmark BSE Sensex pared initial losses but was still lower by 313 points to trade below the crucial 26,000-level because of a sell-off triggered by the setback suffered by the BJP-led NDA in Bihar assembly.

All the sectors, realty, power, tecnology, healthcare, consumer durables, IT, capital goods and metals were in the red.

The 30-share index resumed lower at 25,809 and hovered in a range of 25,992.31 and 26,656.90 before quoting 25,951.94 at 1045 hours, showing a fall of 313.30 points or 1.19 per cent.

The NSE 50-share Nifty was also trading down at 98 points, or 1.23 points to 7,856.30 at 1045 hours.

Major losers were Sun Pharma 4.50 per cent, BHEL 3.28 per cent, Dr Reddy's 2.47 per cent, Coal India 2.24 per cent, ICICI Bank 2.21 per cent, Cipla 2.01 per cent, Wipro 1.89 per cent, ONGC 1.53 per cent and NTPC 1.40 per cent.

However, Tata Motors rose by 2.03 per cent, followed by Maruti Suzuki 1.92 per cent and SBI 0.72 per cent.

Meanwhile, foreign investors bought shares worth Rs 219.17 crore last Friday.

In overseas market, Asian stocks were mixed, mirroring the weak trend in Wall Street on Friday.

Sensex had tanked 608 points and Nifty had slipped 106 points in the early morning trade.