Sensex slips by over 100 points

A benchmark index of the equities markets extended its losses in late Wednesday afternoon trade and was trading 102 points down amid weak global cues. Metal and capital goods stocks were the main losers.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,644.54 points, was ruling at 18,592.38 points, 102.03 points or 0.55 percent down from its previous day's close at 18,694.41 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 18,670.48 points and a low of 18,573.18 points in intra-day trade. The BSE midcap index was up 7.87 points while the small cap index was 27.86 points high. The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also ruling 0.45 percent down at 5,648.65 points.

On the sectoral front, the BSE metal goods index was down 138.29 points while capital goods index was down 105.39 points. Major Sensex gainers were Cipla, up 2.64% at Rs.372.55; ITC; up 0.90% at Rs.262.85; Hindustan Unilever, up 0.82% at Rs.531.45; Wipro, up 0.74% at Rs.379.85; and SBI, up 0.66% at Rs.2,211.80.

The Sensex losers were Bharti Airtel, down 4.56 percent at Rs.263.45; Coal India, 2.74% at Rs.358.40; Tata Motors, down 2.10% at Rs.263.20; Hindalco Inds, 1.97% at Rs.116.95; and HDFC Bank, down 1.63% at Rs.626.20.

Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei was down 2.03 percent while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.83 percent. Shanghai's composite index was also down 1.24%. European markets too opened in red. France's CAC was down 1.75 percent and so was Germany's DAX, down 1.35 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 was trading 1.05% lower.