Benchmark domestic equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, opened higher today but failed to hold on to their initial gains. For most of the intraday session, the indices remained in the red and eventually closed over 0.3 per cent down today. The Sensex lost 297 points to close at 82 thousand 29, while Nifty dipped 82 points to settle at 25 thousand 145. The broader market indices at the Bombay Stock Exchange closed in negative territory. The Mid-Cap index declined over 0.7 percent, and the Small-Cap index slipped over 0.9 per cent.

 

 

In the Sensex pack, 23 out of 30 companies edged downward. Among the top laggards, Bajaj Finance fell 1.8 per cent, Bharat Electronics limited slipped almost 1.8 per cent and Tata Steel dipped 1.7 per cent. Among the top gainers, Tech Mahindra increased over 1.2 per cent, ICICI rose almost 0.4 per cent and Power Grid advanced over 0.3 per cent.

 

 

Among the Sectoral indices at the BSE, all 21 sectors ended in negative territory. Among the top laggards, Telecommunication lost 1.4 per cent, Consumer Durables dropped over 1.1 per cent and Oil and Gas slipped one per cent.

 

 

The overall market breadth at the BSE was negative as shares of 2,870 companies declined and shares of 1,337 companies advanced while shares of 127 companies remained unchanged.