The benchmark BSE Sensex slipped below the 29,000-level and the NSE Nifty fell by 83 points in pre-close trade today as funds and retail investors booked profits made in recent weeks amid mixed global cues.
After rising nearly 132 points in early trade, the Sensex dipped below the psychologically important 29,000-mark by falling 258.01 points, or 0.88 per cent, at 28,973.40 at 1500 hours amid widespread profit-booking by participants.
Major losers that pulled down the indices were RIL, HDFC Ltd, ONGC, Hind Unilever, Axis Bank, Tata Steel, Bajaj Auto, ITC Ltd, SBI, Infosys, Bharti Airtel, GAIL, Cipla, Hindalco, Tata Power, Tata Steel, Sun Pharma, Tata Motors and BHEL.
The 30-share index had lost 230.86 points in the previous session.
Similarly, the National Stock Exchange index Nifty slipped below the crucial 8,800-level by losing 83.55 points, or 0.94 per cent, to 8,750.05 after rising to 8,869.00 in early trade.
Brokers said profit-booking by participants in bluechips that recently logged gains and a weak trend in global markets led to the fall in markets.
Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 89.41 crore in the previous session on Friday, according to provisional data from stock exchanges.
Bucking the trend, shares of Sesa Sterlite, M&M, L&T, Coal India, NTPC, TCS and Wipro were trading in positive zone and cushioned the fall.
