The BSE benchmark Sensex today fell for the fourth consecutive day by losing nearly 85 points in early trade due to sustained selling by funds amid a weak trend in other Asian markets.
The 30-share barometer,which had lost nearly 224 points in the previous three sessions,fell further by 84.54 points,or 0.42 per cent,to 19,977.70.
Stocks of capital goods,realty and power sectors were major losers,pulling down the benchmark Sensex.
Similarly,the wide-based National Stock Exchange index,Nifty,declined by 28.85 points,or 0.47 per cent,to 6,065.65.
Brokers said sustained selling by funds amid a weak trend in Asian region following overnight losses at the US market after Federal Reserve said the Fed could scale back stimulus measures if economic conditions improved,mainly influenced the trading sentiment here.
Besides,a weakening rupee,which dipped to over six-month low against the dollar yesterday also hit the sentiment,they said.
Stocks of state-run lender,State Bank of India fell 1.32 per cent to Rs 2,333.15 ahead of fourth quarterly earnings.
In the Asian region,Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index traded lower by 1.56 per cent,Japan’s Nikkei Index fell 2.18 per cent,in early trade.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.52 per cent lower in yesterday’s trade.
Indian stocks to watch-May 23
(Reuters): GLOBAL MARKETS ROUNDUP
Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange are 0.5 percent down and the MSCI-Asia Pacific index excluding Japan is 1.5 percent lower.
Japanese government bond prices dived and 10-year JGB futures tumbled a full point,prompting the Tokyo Stock Exchange to temporarily suspend trade as the dollar hit a near three-year high versus a basket of currencies on Thursday.
U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday with the S&P 500 posting its biggest decline in three weeks,after minutes from the latest U.S. Federal Reserve meeting showed some officials were open to tapering large-scale asset purchases as early as at the June meeting.
FACTORS TO WATCH
March-quarter earnings from Tata Steel Ltd,State Bank of India Ltd.
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Sebi writes to Jet Airways,raising objections over parts of its agreement with Etihad.
CCI to ask CAG for information in alleged telecom cartelization case.
Indian Bank eyes a slice of insurance cake.
Finance Ministry agrees to 1 trln rupee diesel,LPG subsidy for FY’13.
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Zee Entertainment offers 20 bln rupees bonus to investors through a complex bonus issue.
Finance ministry asks cash-rich PSUs like CIL,ONGC & OIL to consider buybacks.
Oracle Financial’s offer for sale subscribed 3.9 times.
Quadricycles get govt green signal.