Sensex closes 0.91 percent down (Roundup)

A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets closed 0.91 percent lower Thursday with realty, metal and banking stocks coming under selling pressure.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,822.18 points, shut shop at 16,696.03 points, 0.91 percent or 153.57 points lower than its previous close at 16,849.6 points.

The S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also ended lower at 4,952.65 points, down 1.03 percent from its last close.

Broader market indices fell as well - the BSE midcap index ending 0.93 percent lower and the BSE small cap index closing 0.27 percent down.

The market breadth was negative, with 1,201 stocks advancing, 1,516 declining and 89 remaining unchanged.

Among prominent gainers on the Sensex were Reliance Communications, up 1.87 percent at Rs.174.55; Wipro, up 1.44 percent at Rs.625.10; TCS, up 1.42 percent at Rs.654.20, and Grasim Industries, up 0.66 percent at Rs.2,266.40.

Among losers were State Bank of India, down 3.51 percent at Rs.2,295.90; DLF, down 3.4 percent at Rs.370.85; ICICI Bank, down 3.2 percent at Rs.895.05, and Tata Steel, down 2.75 percent at Rs.511.85.

According to data with the regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors bought shares worth $208.9 million Thursday.

Other leading Asian markets closed in the red too.

The primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Hang Seng, ended 229.64 points or 1.01 percent lower at 22,397.57 points.

The Kospi, benchmark index of the Korean Stock Exchange, shut at 1,572.73 points, down 22.09 points or 1.39 percent.

The Nikkei, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed at 9,804.49 points, down 67.19 points or 0.68 percent .

In China, the Shanghai Stock Exchange composite index ended at 3,172.95 points, down 0.07 percent.

European markets were trading on a dull note.

Britain's FTSE 100 index was ruling 0.2 percent higher at 5,277.08 points, while its French peer, CAC 40, was trading 0.1 percent up at 3,817.33 points.

Last updated on Nov 12^th, 2009 at 17:42 pm IST--IANS