Mumbai, Jan 21 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities was ruling about 97 points in the red a little after Thursday noon, even as most other Asian markets registered gains.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,474.49 points, was at 17,377.56 points, down 96.93 points or 0.55 percent from its previous close.

Around the same time, at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was at 5,189.2 points, against the previous close at 5,221.7 points, a loss of 0.62 percent.

Broader markets were also dull, with the BSE midcap index down 0.21 percent and the BSE small cap index trading 0.1 percent higher.

The market breadth was negative, with 1,126 stocks advancing, compared to 1,599 on the decline, and 78 remaining unchanged.

Among the major gainers were M&M, up 2.11 percent at Rs.1,170; Maruti Suzuki, up 1.25 percent at Rs.1,475.10; TCS, up 1.21 percent at Rs.788.05; and TCS, up 1.09 percent at Rs.787.15.

Top losers included ICICI Bank, down 2.73 percent at Rs.853.20; Tata Power, down 2.58 percent at Rs.1,384; L&T, down 2.47 percent at Rs.1,596; and Sterlite Industries, down 1.92 percent at Rs.837.15.

Most other Asian markets were among gains, with the benchmark Japanese index, Nikkei, ending 1.22 percent higher at 10,868.41 points, and the Korean Kospi ruling at 1,722.01, up 0.45 percent.

The Chinese Shanghai composite index too was up 0.2 percent at 3,158 points, though the Hang Seng of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange was ruling 0.66 percent lower at 21,467.74 points,