New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Tuesday closed just 26 points higher, shedding most of the gains made earlier in the day. FMCG, IT and power stocks came under selling pressure.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,457.95 points, closed at 17,425.71 points, up 0.15 percent or just 26.73 points from its previous close at 17,398.98 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 17,526.82 points and a low of 17,351.50 intra-day. The BSE midcap index rose 29.65 points while the smallcap index gained 52.69 points.
The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange ended 0.18 percent higher at 5,287.95 points.
The BSE FMCG index was down 36.99 points, while the IT index and the power index were down 28.88 points and 2.07 points respectively.
The consumer durable index, however, was up 187.35 points, followed by the realty and PSU index which were 33.53 and 75.10 points higher respectively.
Major Sensex gainers were Bharti Airtel, up 3.11 percent at Rs.319.50; Hindalco Inds, up 2.27 percent at Rs.123.85; Coal India, up 1.96 percent at Rs.356.60; HDFC, up 1.96 percent at Rs.674.15; and Gail India, up 1.87 percent at Rs.361.85.
The main losers were BHEL, down 1.59 percent at Rs.231.40; Jindal Steel, down 1.46 at Rs.451.10; TCS, down 1.43 percent at Rs.1,242.20; ITC, down 1.30 percent at Rs.246.85; and Hindustan Unilever, down 1.04 percent at Rs.442.40.
The markets had begun trading on a strong note on positive global cues.
In the Asian region, the Japan's Nikkei closed up 0.70 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.51 percent and China's Composite index rose 0.14 percent.
At the closing bell here, European markets were trading in the green. France's CAC was 0.12 percent up, while Germany's DAX and Britain's FTSE 100 were trading 0.57 percent and 0.27 percent higher respectively.
