The benchmark domestic equity indices today ended with losses of around one and half percent, as the markets took a breather amid profit-booking and cautious sentiment from investors following the previous session’s massive rally. The 30-share index at the Bombay Stock Exchange, Sensex, slumped 1,282 points, or 1.55 percent to close at 81,148. The National Stock Exchange Nifty-50 dropped 346 points, or 1.39 percent to settle at 24,578.
However, the broader market indices at the BSE bucked the trend. The Mid-Cap index added 0.17 per cent, and the Small-Cap index rose almost one per cent.
In the Sensex pack, 25 out of 30 companies edged down. In the top laggards, Infosys slid over three and half percent, PowerGrid slipped 3.4 percent, and Eternal dipped almost 3.4 percent. Among the top gainers, SunPharma rose over 0.8 percent, Adani Ports added almost half percent, and Bajaj Finance increased almost 0.3 percent.
In sectoral indices at the BSE, 16 out of 21 sectors ended in negative territory. In the top laggards, Focused IT declined over 2.4 percent, Teck dropped almost 2.4 percent, and IT slipped 2.2 percent. Among the top gainers, Industrials advanced over 1.2 percent, Capital Goods gained over one percent, and Healthcare as well as Services, both increased over 0.9 percent each.
Meanwhile, the overall market breadth at the BSE was positive as shares of 2,559 companies advanced, 1,402 declined, and shares of 140 companies remained unchanged. At the National Stock Exchange, 43 companies hit their 52-week high, while 10 companies hit their 52-week low.