News Tonight

Indian benchmark indices continue to trade on a feeble note because of weak opening of European bourses and on assumption of the United States may fall into depression.

At 12.59 p. m., the 30-share benchmark index, BSE Sensex was ruling at 16,582.39 after declining 239.07 points (1.42%) with 24 components in the negative.

In the meantime, the broad-based Nifty was trading 65.05 points down (1.29%) at 4,974.95 with 38 components in the red.

Today, the BSE Sensex belled the day after shedding 143.12 points (0.85%) at 16,678.34.

In contrast, the NSE Nifty started with a loss of 41.10 points (0.82%) at 4,998.90.

The overall breadth of the stock market remained pessimistic with 1,195 advancements as compared to 1,436 declinations.

The top gainers in the Sensex pack comprised Hero Honda Motors, which surged 3.55%, Jindal Steel & Power gained 1.05%, Bajaj Auto added 0.40%, JP Associates zoomed 0.32%, Mahindra & Mahindra climbed 0.22% and Larsen & Toubro remained up by 0.13%.

On the other hand, the major losers in the Sensex consisted of ONGC, which dropped 2.92%, Infosys Technologies declined 2.77%, RIL fell 2.47%, HDFC slumped 2.38%, Hindalco Ind dipped 2.27% and Tata Power Company remained down by 2.24%.

The BSE Mid and small caps dropped 0.05% and 0.30% respectively.

Among sectoral indices, the IT index slashed 116.1 points; the Oil & Gas index lost 177.82 points; and the TECk index dropped 65.16 points.

In contrast, the Consumer Durables index remained up by 83.12 points or 1.30%.