Sensex choppy, IT, telecom drag broader mkts

MUMBAI, INDIA: A benchmark index for Indian equities markets slipped from early high Friday and was subdued while IT and telecom stocks weighed heavy on the broader markets.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,060.17 points, was ruling at 17,923.98 points - down 61.9 points or 0.35 percent from its previous close at 17,985.88 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading in the red at 5,380.5 points, down 0.3 per cent.

Broader markets were ruling quiet, with the BSE midcap index up 0.17 percent and the BSE smallcap index up 0.23 per cent.

The market breadth was negative, with 1,102 stocks advancing, 1,353 on the decline and 112 remaining unchanged.

Among the gainers on the Sensex were Tata Steel, Bharti Airtel, Tata Power and Hindustan Unilever, while losers included Infosys, TCS, ONGC and RIL.

Asian markets were ruling lower as well.

The Nikkei of the Japanese stock exchange was down 0.59 percent at 9,355.49 points, while the Hang Seng of the Hong Kong stock exchange was trading 0.46 per cent lower at 21,852.82 points.

The Chinese Shanghai composite index moved down 0.25 per cent to close at 2,657.69 points.