The benchmark Sensex fell for the first time in 4 days and
closed 71.16 points down today hurt by losses in power, capital goods and
banking shares, amid profit-booking after the recent rise took it to a record
high.
Shares of Sensex constituent NTPC, which tanked over 11 per
cent, led power sector lower on worries the proposed electricity tariff regulation
would hit earnings.
Bluechips, including ICICI BankBSE -3.49 %, L&T and
BHELBSE -3.52 %, slid 3-4 per cent after market participants book profits in
the backdrop of 618-point surge in Sensex in the previous three days. However,
rise in IT stocks capped the index's losses.
The Sensex, which had climbed to an all-time closing high of
21,326.42 in the previous session, fell by 71.16 points, or 0.33 per cent to
21,255.26. Intra-day, the gauge moved between 21,175.08 and 21,327.75.
Trading sentiment was also dampened on a weakening Asian
trend and lower opening in Europe as reports said Chinese industrial production
rose less-than-estimated last month.
Apart from these factors, markets also saw selling pressure
after Fitch expressed fears that the defeat of Congress in four of the five
state assembly polls could lead to higher fiscal deficit target as the
government would be constrained to curb expenditure.
The 50-share National Stock Exchange index Nifty fell by
31.05 points, or 0.49 per cent, to end at 6,332.85. It had climbed to a record
high of 6,363.90 yesterday. Also, SX40 index, the flagship index of MCX-SX,
dropped 18.59 points or 0.15 per cent to end at 12,616.20.
In PSU power shares, besides NTPC, NHPC, Power Grid and
SJVNBSE -2.88 % fell in 1-3 per cent range. Private sector peers, Reliance
PowerBSE -2.97 % and Tata PowerBSE -1.52 % also logged losses.
BSE Top Gainers:
TCS, Hero Motocorp, Sesa Sterlite, Wipro, ITC, Infosys, Hindalco, HUL, Cipla, Tata Steel, Reliance, Bajaj Auto, Jindal Steel, Sun Pharma, HDFC Bank, Dr Reddys Labs
BSE Top Losers:
NTPC, Larsen, BHEL, ICICI Bank, SBI, ONGC, Coal India, Tata Power, HDFC, M&M, Maruti Suzuki, GAIL, Tata Motors, Bharti Airtel
NSE Top Gainers:
TCS, Hero Motocorp, Sesa Sterlite, Lupin, Wipro, ITC, Kotak Mahindra, Bank of Baroda,
HCL Tech, Hindalco, Infosys, Cipla, Reliance, Cairn India, HUL, Tata Steel, Bajaj Auto, Jindal Steel, Asian Paints, HDFC Bank
NSE Top Losers:
NTPC, Larsen, ICICI Bank, BHEL, IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, IDFC, Power Grid Corp,
DLF, Grasim, SBI, Ranbaxy Labs, ONGC, Ambuja Cements, BPCL, Coal India, Jaiprakash Asso, Tata Power, M&M, ACC, HDFC, GAIL, PNB, NMDC, Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki,
Bharti Airtel, UltraTechCement, Sun Pharma, Dr Reddys Labs
