Markets slip into red after positive start (Lead)

Mumbai, April 22 (Inditop) Indian equities markets slipped into the red after starting in the positive terrain Wednesday, with a key index ruling 9.79 points below its previous close, a little after noon.

The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) sensitive index (Sensex), which had opened at 10,968.6 points, was at 10,888.32 points, 0.09 percent or 9.79 points lower than its previous close.

Similarly, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was at 3,351.2 points, 0.42 percent down from its last close of 3,365.3 points.

Among broader market indices the BSE midcap index fell 0.16 percent, while the BSE smallcap index was down 0.46 percent.

Of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE, the indices for banking, IT and FMCG stocks gained the most.

Gainers among the scrips on the 30-composite Sensex included Wipro, up 3.48 percent at Rs.283.80; ACC, up 2.44 percent at Rs.628.50; ICICI Bank, up 1.68 percent at Rs.405.50, and Reliance Infra, up 1.44 percent at Rs.685.

Among the losers were Sun Pharma, down 3.31 percent at Rs.1,179.50; Maruti Suzuki, down 2.74 percent at Rs.767.75; Sterlite, down 2.61 percent at Rs.372.50, and Tata Power, down 1.82 percent at Rs.864.

In other Asian markets, a key Japanese index – the Nikkei of the Tokyo Stock Exchange – closed marginally above its last closing figure. It ended trade at 8,727.3 points, about 15.97 points higher than its previous close.

The Hang Seng, a key index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, was in the negative terrain at 15,024.33 points, 261.56 points below its previous close.

Overnight US stock markets soared on the back of resurgent financial scrips. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 127.83 points or 1.63 percent, to 7,969.56 points.

The broader Standard and Poor’s 500 Index gained 17.69 points or 2.13 percent, to 850.08 points. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index was up 35.64 points or 2.22 percent, to 1,643.85 points.