Sensex ends lower for 3rd consecutive session

Realty, auto, capital goods and power stocks pulled the Sensex down 83 points to settle at 15,467.46. IT, tech and healthcare stocks resisted the trend. It opened with a loss of 69.14 points, at 15,482.05 on Wednesday tracking subdued global cues. The index traded in a lacklustre manner due to lack of cues amid volatility through the day, touching a high of 15,628.10 and low of 15,392.68.

BSE Midcap and Smallcap index dipped 0.68% and 0.32% respectively.

On sectoral front, BSE Realty, Auto, Capital goods and Power declined over 1% each, while IT rose 0.98%, Teck rose 0.52%.

European stocks fell on speculation a six-month rally has outpaced the prospects for earnings growth after valuations for the Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Index climbed to the most expensive level in six years. UK`s benchmark index FTSE 100 fell 8.14 points, or 0.18%, to trade at 4,811.13. French benchmark index CAC 40 fell 22.72 points, or 0.63%, to trade 3,560.05. Germany`s benchmark index DAX decreased 22.16 points, or 0.45%, to trade at 5,302.36. (4.23 p.m., IST)

The Sensex ended the day with a loss of 83.73 points, or 0.54% at 15,467.46 after touching a high of 15,628.10 and a low of 15,392.68. The broad-based NSE Nifty declined 16.65 points, or 0.36% at 4,608.35 after hitting a high of 4,650.45 and a low of 4,576.60.

Major gainers in the 30-share index were Reliance Communications (5.97%), Tata Motors (5.90%), Maruti Suzuki India (5.16%), Hero Honda Motors (2.97%), Hindustan Unilever (2.73%), and Reliance Capital (2.48%).

On the other hand, Sterlite Industries (India) (5.95%), Bharat Heavy Electricals (4.90%), Jaiprakash Associates (4.75%), Mahindra & Mahindra (3.55%), Housing Development Finance Corporation (3.10%), and DLF (2.92%) were the major losers in the Sensex pack.

Overall market breadth was negative. Out of the total 2,846 stocks traded at BSE, 1,163 advanced, 1,601 declined while 82 remained unchanged.