Mkts end weak on profit booking

Mumbai: The markets ended the day in the red on the back of selling pressure in stocks across sectors. Auto, banking, pharma and metal stocks were the major losers on the indices.

The Sensex closed down 76.41 points or 0.57 per cent at 13429.48, and the Nifty down 24.05 points or 0.62 per cent at 3852.8.

About 615 shares have advanced, 1869 shares declined, and 52 shares are unchanged.

NTPC, HDFC, Reliance Comm, ACC, HPCL and BPCL are the top gainers on the indices.

Dr Reddys Labs, ONGC, Guj Ambuja Cem, Cipla, MTNL, PNB and VSNL are the top losers on the indices.

The BSE Midcap Index was down 1.47 per cent or 82.08 points at 5,501.28.

The BSE Small Cap Index closed negative 1.92 per cent or 124.71 points at 6,359.47.

The BSE Auto Index slipped 1.14 per cent or 60.34 points at 5,211.41. Asahi India, Escorts, MRF, Bharat Forge, Exide Industrie and Cummins closed down.

The BSE Bankex fell 1.21 per cent or 87.53 points at 7,124.85. Andhra Bank, PNB, Federal Bank, Kotak Mahindra, Bank of Baroda and Allahabad Bank slipped.

The BSE Capital Goods Index closed in red 0.41 per cent or 36.11 points at 8,780.00. Aban Offshore, BEML, Dredging Corp, Greaves Cotton and HEG ended lower.

The BSE FMCG Index tumbled 1.44 per cent or 29.24 points at 2,005.62. Colgate, Shaw Wallace, Tata Tea, ITC and Nirma fell.

The BSE Health Care Index plunged 1.84 per cent or 69.63 points at 3,706.75. Dr Reddys Labs, Sterling Bio, Apollo Hospital, Orchid Chemical, FDC witness selling pressure.

The BSE IT Index was down 0.54 per cent or 26.99 points at 4,949.35. Moser Baer, Patni Computer, HCL Info, HCL Tech, I-Flex Solution lost ground.

The BSE Metal Index plummet 1.63 per cent or 145.35 points at 8,789.55. Sterlite Ind, Sesa Goa, Mah Seamless, JSW Steel and Jindal Saw meltdown.

The BSE Oil and Gas Index was down 0.46 per cent or 28.78 points at 6,167.09. ONGC, Petronet LNG, Reliance Natural and MRPL plunged.

The NSE cash turnover was at Rs 8707.76 crore and the NSE F&O turnover was at Rs 29189.14 crore. The BSE cash turnover was Rs 4474.43 crore. Total market wide turnover was at Rs 42371.33 crore.