Sensex closes down 49 points

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty fell by 13 points to close at 5,090.55 points.

The stocks in fast moving consumer goods,metals,oil and gas,power,bank and realty fell sharply,while gains in auto,consumer durables and tech stocks averted a major fall.

In the 30-BSE index stocks,13 closed with gains while 17 fell on profit booking.

The FMCG index suffered the most by losing 0.92 per cent to 2,886.87 points,followed by the metal index which ended down by 0.81 per cent at 16,216.72 points. The oil and gas index fell by 0.79 per cent to 10,357.78 points as the heaviest on the Sensex Reliance Industries dropped by Rs 19.40 to Rs 2,176.10.

The metal segment stocks fell as base-metal prices dropped on the London Metal Exchange,raising concerns this might impact corporate earnings of metal producing companies.

All major Asian markets closed in the red. Hong Kong8217;s Hang Seng index lost 1.53 per cent,while Japan8217;s benchmark Nikkei-225 index lost 1.01 per cent and Singapore8217;s Straits Times Index fell by 0.64 per cent as investors booked profit after yesterday8217;s gains amid concerns that Beijing may tighten the monetary policy.