Sensex closes 71 points down, FMCG, metal stocks plummet

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets yesterday closed almost 71 points down led by profit booking. FMCG, metal and consumer durables stocks came under selling pressure. The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Mumbai Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,752.22 points, closed at 17,657.21 points, 0.40% or 70.99 points down from its previous trading day’s close at 17,728.20 points. The BSE FMCG index was down 108 points, metal index was down 153.58 points, and consumer durables index down 65.45 points. The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange closed 0.32% down at 5,362.95 points. The main Sensex losers were ITC, down 3.59% at Rs.258.15; Hindalco Inds, down 2.75% at Rs.116.85; Sterlite Inds, down 2.44% at Rs.109.75; Gail India, down 2.17% at Rs.366.85; and Tata Steel down 1.93% at Rs.398.20. The major gainers were Hero MotoCorp, up 2.69% at Rs.1,929.70; Mahindra & Mahindra, up 2.13% at Rs.763; RIL, up 2.04% at Rs.815.05; and Cipla, up 2.01% at Rs.355.95. Among other Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei closed 1.88% up while Shanghai’s composite index closed 0.32% down. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed 0.45% down. At closing bell here, European markets were mixed too. France’s CAC was down 0.01%. Germany’s DAX was 0.23% up and Britain’s FTSE 100 was 0.19% down. from gulf times.