Sensex slips 32 points to end at 38,690; Nifty ends at 11,676

MUMBAI: The BSE Sensex on Thursday ended at 38,690 after slipping 32 points. The Nifty was also down by 15 points to end at 11,676.80. The stocks fell in the second straight session due to the pressure of rupee collapsing to a new record low against the US dollar. Rising concerns over surging crude oil prices also contributed to the markets clocking the second straight session loss on Thursday.

Investors appeared cautious in view of expiry of August futures and options (F&O) and also due to mixed cues from global markets. They offloaded their long bets in F&O segment instead of carrying them forward to the next series for September.

Investor sentiments were hit after global oil prices went past USD 77 a barrel on a fall in US crude inventories and expected disruptions to supply from Iran and Venezuela.

In spite of a higher opening, the 30-share Sensex settled lower by 32.83 points, or 0.08 per cent, at 38,690.10. Intra-day, it shuttled between 38,819.06 and 38,581.83. The gauge retreated from a life-time high of 38,989.65, falling 173.70 points in the previous session.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 1,415.87 crore on a net basis, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought equities to the tune of Rs 1,114.36 crore yesterday, provisional data showed.

Meanwhile, rupee plunged to a new life-time low of 70.85 against the dollar (intra-day).

(With PTI inputs)