Sensex down over 150 points ahead of inflation data

Reuters Market Eye - The BSE Sensex and the Nifty fall 0.8 percent each as profit-taking and caution continue for a third day after the record highs hit on Monday.

Rate sensitive stocks fall ahead of retail inflation data later in the day.

ICICI Bank is down 1.24 percent, while Bajaj Auto falls 1.2 percent.

Tata Motors falls 3 percent. Since the automaker hit a record high at 405.05 rupees on November 28, its shares had fallen 6.7 percent as of Wednesday's close.

Consumer prices were forecast to have risen an 10 percent annually last month, a Reuters poll showed, barely changed from the 10.09 percent clocked in October.

 

Falls also track Asian shares which slipped to a 2-1/2 month low on Thursday on heightened expectations the Federal Reserve may act sooner than later to unwind its stimulus after a provisional budget deal in Washington eased some of the fiscal drag on the U.S. economy.