Benchmark domestic equity indices, the Sensex and the Nifty, closed half a per cent lower today. The Sensex plunged 436 points, to close at 84 thousand 666, while the Nifty slipped 121 points, to settle at 25 thousand 840. However, the broader market indices at the Bombay Stock Exchange outperformed. The Mid-Cap index advanced 0.6 per cent, while the Small-Cap index added almost 1.3 per cent.

 

In the Sensex pack, 22 out of 30 companies edged downward. Among the top laggards, Asian Paints tumbled 4.6 per cent, Tech Mahindra lost two per cent and HCL Tech fell almost 1.8 per cent. In the top gainers, Eternal increased almost 2.3 per cent, Titan rose over 2.1 per cent and Adani Ports added nearly 1.1 per cent. 

 

Across sectoral indices at the BSE, 11 out of 21 sectors ended with losses. Among the key decliners, Focused IT shed almost 1.2 per cent, IT 0.9 per cent and Teck dropped over 0.7 per cent. Among the top gainers, Capital Goods advanced nearly 1.3 per cent, Services added over 1.2 per cent, and Industrials rose almost 1.2 per cent. 

 

The overall market breadth at the BSE was positive, as shares of 2,619 companies advanced, 1,554 declined, and 158 remained unchanged.