Sensex closes 61 points down day before RBI policy review

Mumbai, February 2: A benchmark index of Indian equities markets on Monday closed trading 60.68 points or 0.21 percent down in cautious trade ahead of Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) policy review scheduled for Tuesday. Good buying was observed in capital goods, IT, consumer durables and auto sectors, while selling pressure was seen in fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and oil and gas sectors. The 30–scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 29,143.63 points, closed at 29,122.27 points, down 60.68 points or 0.21 percent from the previous day’s close at 29,182.95 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 29,268.13 points and a low of 28,958.52 points in intra–day trade. The S&P BSE capital goods index surged by 213.44 points, IT index gained by 111.51 points, consumer durables index moved up by 100.35 points and auto index rose by 91.64 points. However, FMCG index dropped by 146.22 points and oil and gas index dipped by 55.19 points.

The wider 50–scrip Nifty of the tiol Stock Exchange (NSE) also closed trading 11.50 points or 0.13 percent down at 8,797.40 points. The major Sensex gainers were: UPL Limited, up 6.88 percent at Rs.393.30; HCL Tech, up 5.54 percent at Rs.1,893.45; Siemens, up 5.32 percent at Rs.1,095.20; and Axis Bank, up 4.82 percent at Rs.617.05.

The losers were: Asian Paints, down 5.75 percent at Rs.808.15; United Spirits, down 5.60 percent at Rs.3,261.65; Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, down 3.63 percent at Rs.631.80; and Bharti Airtel, down 3.54 percent at Rs.359.55. Among the Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei dropped by 0.66 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was 0.09 percent down and Chi’s Shanghai Composite Index plunged by 2.53 percent. In Europe, London’s FTSE 100 was down by 0.11 percent and France’s CAC 40 slipped by 0.27 percent, while Germany’s DAX Index gained 0.13 percent. (IANS)