Sensex trades over 100 points down; healthcare stocks plunge

Mumbai, April 17:

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets, the 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex), was trading over a 100 points down during the late-afternoon session on Friday.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading in the red. It was down 59.05 points or 0.68 percent at 8,647.65 points.

The Sensex of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 28,682.97 points, was trading at 28,557.24 points (at 2.30 p.m.), down 108.80 points or 0.38 percent from the previous day’s close at 28,666.04 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 28,696.19 points and a low of 28,504.17 points in the intra-day trade so far.

Heavy selling pressure was observed in healthcare, information technology (IT), banks, technology, entertainment and media (TECK) and consumer durables sectors.

However, healthy buying was observed in the metal, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and capital goods stocks.

The BSE S&P healthcare index receded 346.25 points, followed by IT index which declined by 211.85 points, banking index slipped by 208.49 points, TECK index decreased by 114.77 points and consumer durables index was lower by 78.02 points.

However, the S&P BSE metal index was up 171.43 points, FMCG index was higher by 15.39 points and capital goods index gained by 14.27 points. (IANS)