Sensex continues to languish in dull trade

Sensex continues to languish in dull trade

Mumbai: A benchmark index of Indian equities on Tuesday continued to trade weak even as selling pressure increased in broader markets.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,982.9 points, was ruling at 19,885.59 points - down 95.72 points or 0.47 percent from its previous close at 19,981.31 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was trading at 5,960.45 points, down 0.53 percent.

Broader markets were also in the red, with the BSE midcap index ruling 1.08 percent down and the BSE smallcap index trading 1.46 percent lower.

Energy stocks rallied strongly while banking and scrips came under selling pressure.

The market breadth was negative, with 750 stocks advancing, compared to 1,981 scrips on the decline, while 81 stocks were unchanged.

Among major gainers of the Sensex were Hindalco Industries, Maruti Suzuki, Bharti Airtel and RIL, while prominent losers included DLF, ICICI Bank, and Tata Motors.

Other Asian markets were mixed as uncertainty grew after an overnight fall in US markets and reports of a rate hike by the Chinese cenral bank.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng was trading 0.86 percent higher at 23,438.69 points, while the Shanghai Composite index ruling 0.92 percent up at 2,883.51 points.

The Japanese Nikkei closed on a dull note, down 0.26 percent at 10,141.13 points.