Thaindian News

Mumbai, March 4 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets closed in the red Friday as some investors booked profit taking advantage of a post-budget rally and concerns of spreading unrest in the Middle East.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened sharply higher at 18,622.70 points, pared the gains in the afternoon and closed at 18,486.45 points, down 0.02 percent or 3.31 points from the previous day’s close of 18,489.76 points.

The benchmark Sensex remained range-bound throughout the day. The index touched a high of 18,736.97 points and low of 18,448.69 points in the intraday trade.

However, at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P; CNX Nifty closed in the positive in a largely range-bound session. The Nifty ended 0.05 percent or 2.55 points up at 5,538.75 points.

At the broader market, the BSE midcap index declined 0.10 percent and the smallcap index closed 0.26 percent down.

L&T; slumped 3.08 percent to close at Rs.1,610.80. Other major Sensex losers were Jaiprakash Associates, down 2.04 percent at Rs.84; Maruti Suzuki, down 1.98 percent at Rs.1,302; and BHEL, down 1.94 percent at Rs.2,085.

Major gainers on the Sensex were: Tata Power, up 2.27 percent at Rs.1,218.70; Hero Honda, up 2.15 percent at Rs.1,534.45; Bajaj Auto, up 2 percent at Rs.1,377.65 and HDFC, up 1.63 percent at Rs.681.55.

Other Asian markets ended in the positive. The Japanese Nikkei closed 1.02 percent higher at 10,693.70 points, making up for some of the losses earlier this week.

The Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 1.24 percent at 23,408.90 points and China’s Shanghai Composite index closed 1.35 percent higher at 2,942.31 points.

European markets were also in the green. Around mid-day, the French CAC 40 was trading 0.67 percent higher and the German DAX was ruling 0.85 percent up.

Britain’s FTSE 100 was trading 0.57 percent up.