Opening Bell: Sensex recovers, Nifty above 9700 on F&O expiry

Key indices on Thursday opened marginally lower on the day of expiry of September derivative contracts. The 30-share BSE Sensex was down 36.73 points at 31,123.08 and the 50-share NSE Nifty fell 12.25 points to 9,723.50 on relentless selling by foreign funds.

The gauge had fallen 1,263.95 points in the previous seven sessions.

BSE indices led by oil and gas, PSU, consumer durables, auto, healthcare, metal and bank stocks declined by up to 2.07% .

A sinking rupee, which slipped 16 paise to a fresh six and a half month low of 65.88 against the dollar today, made traders all the more nervous.

The US Fed's policy decision and commentary led to foreign investors heading to the exit door here.

Month-end demand from importers for the US currency is at work, forex dealers said. The dollar's gains against other currencies overseas put the squeeze on the local unit.

Yesterday, the rupee plunged 27 paise to end at 65.72.

Asian Paints, Adani Ports, ONGC, Maruti Suzuki and Reliance Industries slid up to 2.42 per cent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng weakened 0.35 per cent while Shanghai Composite lost 0.24 per cent in early trade. Japan's Nikkei, however, moved up 0.29 per cent. US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.55 per cent higher yesterday.