Sensex slips from record, edges down on F&O expiry

Stock markets came off their peak

and turned weak today after three back-to-back sessions of

gains as the benchmark Sensex slipped in view of April

derivatives expiry.

Besides, weak Asian cues weighed on sentiment. Investors

are looking forward to US President Donald Trump's plan for

the US tax system.

The 30-share index hit yet another record high (intra-

day) of 30,184.22 points, but slumped to quote down 32.44

points, or 0.11 per cent, at 30,100.91 as profit-booking set

in.

The gauge had gained 768.05 points in the previous three

sessions.

Maruti Suzuki was trading lower by 0.15 per cent at Rs

6,397.50 as cautious investors cut down their bets ahead of

the quarterly earnings to be released later in the day.

BSE indices led by metal, oil and gas, bank, PSU and

capital goods declined.

The NSE Nifty was lower by 9.90 points, or 0.11 per cent,

at 9,341.95 after rising to 9,363.40 in the beginning.

Squaring-up of positions by participants -- today being

the last trading session of April series contracts in the

derivatives segment -- and weak Asian cues dampened sentiment

here.

Major losers were Axis Bank, Lupin, ICICI Bank, Bharti

Airtel, Asia Paints, HDFC and ITC, falling by up to 1.60 per

cent.

Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed

0.16 per cent while Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.68 per

cent in early trade. Japan's Nikkei too was down 0.24 per

cent.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.10 per cent

lower yesterday.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)