Mumbai, Dec 18 (IANS) A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets was trading dull around Friday noon and was ruling about 13 points lower.
At 12.05 p.m., the sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) — which opened at 16,855.91 points — was ruling at 16,881.35 points, down 12.9 points or 0.31 percent from its previous close at 16,894.25 points.

Around the same time, at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was also flat at 5,037.1 points, against the previous close at 5,041.75 points, a loss of 0.09 percent.

Broader market indices were, however, faring better with the BSE midcap index up 0.34 percent and the BSE small cap index ruling 0.9 percent higher.

The market breadth was tilted towards the positive, with 1,518 stocks advancing, 985 scrips declining and 118 remaining unchanged.

Among major gainers at this time were Tata Motors, up 3.2 percent at Rs.733; Wipro, up 2.52 percent at Rs.690.15; Sun Pharma, up 2.28 percent at Rs.1,515; and Tata Steel, up 1.21 percent at Rs.570.80.

Among prominent losers were HDFC, down 0.98 percent at Rs.2,576; Infosys, down 0.94 percent at Rs.2,537.20; HDFC Bank, down 0.77 percent at Rs.1,660; and ACC a similar 0.77 percent down at Rs.859.75.

Selling pressure hit other Asian markets as well with most benchmark indices in the red.

The Hang Seng, a benchmark index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, was ruling lower at 21,153.79 points, 0.91 percent or 193.84 points down.

A key Japanese index, the Nikkei, was ruling 0.73 percent or 74.22 points down at 10,089.58 points.

In China, the Shanghai composite index was ruling 1.59 percent in the red at 3,128.68 points.

The Kospi, the benchmark index of the Korean Stock Exchange, was down 0.27 percent or 4.45 points at 1,643.39 points.