Sensex closes 117 points down; capital goods stocks plunge

Mumbai, February 4:A day after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to keep key lending rates unchanged, a benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Wednesday’s trade down 117 points or 0.40 percent. Selling pressure was observed in interest–sensitive stocks like capital goods, banks, automobiles, consumer durables and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG). However, healthy buying took place in metal, healthcare, oil and gas and realty stocks. The 30–scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 29,129.85 points, closed the day’s trade at 28,883.11 points, down 117.03 points or 0.40 percent from the previous day’s close at 29,000.14 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 29,133.62 points and a low of 28,824.68 points in the intra–day trade.

“Since RBI turned out to be a non–event, we have seen higher volatility in the market due to loss booking among fincials. Also, Q3 results have turned out to be quite poor. This doesn’t bode well amidst concerns over high market valuation,” said Vinod ir, head–fundamental research, Geojit BNP Paribas Fincial Services. Sector–wise, S&P BSE capital goods index was down 325.30 points, bank index was lower by 273.28 points, automobile index dropped 218.27 points, consumer durables index lost 121.48 points and FMCG index slipped 41.84 points.

However, S&P BSE metal index was up 214.82 points, followed by healthcare index which gained 144.79 points, oil and gas index was higher by 28.05 points, and realty index rose 17.39 points.

The wider 50–scrip Nifty of the tiol Stock Exchange (NSE) too closed in the negative territory. It was down 32.85 points or 0.38 percent at 8,723.70 points. The major Sensex gainers were Hindalco, up 3.89 percent at Rs.152.05; Tata Power, up 3.32 percent at Rs.90.20; Sesa Sterlite, up 2.87 percent at Rs.216.60; Coal India, up 2.57 percent at Rs.365.85; and ONGC, up 2.53 percent at Rs.368.35.

The losers were Axis Bank, down 4.64 percent at Rs.559.30; BHEL, down 4.01 percent at Rs.285.10; State Bank of India (SBI), down 2.32 percent at Rs.293.20; Larsen and Toubro (LT), down 1.90 percent at Rs.1,689.95; and Tata Motors, down 1.69 percent at Rs.591.85. (IANS)