Mumbai, Oct 21 (IANS) A key Indian equity index was ruling on a volatile note Wednesday and was down 0.22 percent from its last closing figure, less than 90 minutes before the end of trade.
Profit booking was putting pressure on the indices with investors looking to exit stocks at current high levels.

At 2.16 p.m., the sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened higher at 17,229.72 points, was ruling at 17,184.64 points — 38.37 points or 0.22 percent down from Tuesday’s close at 17,223.01 points.

Around the same time, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), too was trading in the negative at 5,104.2 points, down 0.2 percent.

Broader market indices were mixed with mid-sized capitalised company scrips coming under selling pressure, while smaller company stocks saw some buying interest.

The market breadth was positive, with 1,366 stocks advancing, 1,309 declining and 95 remaining unchanged.

Among the gainers this time on the Sensex were DLF, up 4.24 percent at Rs.488.50; TCS, up 2.27 percent at Rs.635.50; Tata Power, up 1.88 percent at Rs.1,440.25 and Infosys, up 1.67 percent at Rs.2,222.25.

Among the losers were Tata Motors, down 2.69 percent at Rs.563.20; SBI, down 2.41 percent at Rs.2,405.80; ONGC, down 1.98 percent at Rs.1,184 and HDFC, down 1.93 percent at Rs.2,723.70.

Profit taking hit other Asian markets as well.

The Nikkei, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed 3.45 points or 0.03 percent lower at 10,333.39 points.

The primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Hang Seng, was ruling 66.85 points or 0.3 percent lower at 22,318.11 points.

At the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the composite index was ruling 0.45 percent down at 3,070.59 points.

The Kospi, benchmark index of the Korean Stock Exchange, was also in the red at 1,653.86 points, down 5.29 points or 0.32 percent.