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(Updated at 1443 hrs)
Markets continue to trade in the red on the back of weak global cues and profit booking in heavyweights like Reliance Industries, ITC and ICICI Bank. At 2:20pm, the Sensex was down 85 points at 19,666 and the Nifty had edged lower by 30 points to trade at 5,957 in the noon deals.
Meanwhile, broader markets continues to remain under pressure with the midcap index down 0.7% and the smallcap index losing 1% as compared to the Sensex down 0.4%
In Asia, shares fell on Tuesday as investors took profits from recent rallies, while the yen got a respite from broad-based selling. Japan's Nikkei share average fell snapping a five-day winning streak with the Nikkei down 1.9% to 11,047. The other major loser was Hang Seng down over 2%.
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European shares were largely flat as renewed worries over political risks in the euro zone trimmed demand for riskier assets for a second day. Across Europe London's FTSE 100,Paris's CAC-40 and Frankfurt's DAX were all up 0.2-0.5%, recovering from the previous day’s sharp falls.
All sectoral indices were in the negative barring Health Care index. Consumer Durables, FMCG, Power, Metal and Bankex indices were the major losers, down 0.7-1%.'
The only gainers among the Sensex stocks were Sun Pharma which was up 4% followed by Gail India, Cipla, TCS, Hindalco, Maruti Suzuki and Bajaj Auto up 0.2-2%.
Among the draggers were BHEL, Sterlite, Bharti Airtel and Tata Motors down 2-3%.
Among other stocks, United Spirits rose by 4% after global liquor major Diageo Plc received market regulator Sebi's clearance for an open offer to acquire 26% stake from public shareholders of the UB group firm.
Wadia group run Bombay Dyeing's stock fell nearly 9% in intraday trade at Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Tuesday amidst media reports of company unauthorisedly acquiring development permission for its central Mumbai property.
The market breadth was negative. 1874 stocks declined while 851 stocks advanced on the BSE.