Benchmark domestic equity indices reversed earlier gains and ended around 0.2 per cent down in volatile trade today. The Sensex fell 161 points to close at 75 thousand 238, while the Nifty dropped 46 points to settle at 23 thousand and 644. The broader market on the National Stock Exchange also ended lower. The Midcap 100 dipped over 0.4 per cent while the Smallcap 100 lost 0.6 per cent.
Earlier, the markets opened on a subdued note but managed to trade in positive territory for most of the session. However, both indices trimmed their early gains in the final hour of trade amid profit booking at higher levels and rise in crude oil prices.
In the Sensex pack, shares of 16 out of 30 companies registered losses. Among the top underperformers, Tata Steel tanked nearly two per cent, Eternal dropped over 1.9 per cent, and Reliance lost almost 1.9 per cent. In contrast, Infosys jumped 2.1 per cent, Tech Mahindra climbed more than two per cent and PowerGrid advanced over 1.3 per cent.
In the sectoral indices at the BSE, 17 out of 25 sectors ended in negative territory. Among the top losers, Metal shed two per cent, Realty lost over 1.8 per cent, and PSU Banks as well as Oil and Gas dropped 1.8 per cent. In the top gainers, IT rose over one per cent, Focused IT climbed one per cent and Services added more than 0.6 per cent.
The overall market breadth at the BSE was negative, as shares of 2 thousand 471 companies declined, 1 thousand 705 advanced, and 169 remained unchanged.
