Sensex opens with a flat note, stares at weak global cues

The 30-share BSE Sensex fell 100.87 points to 61,831.60 after a flat start to the trade. The NSE Nifty dipped 29.1 points to 18,257.40.

Mumbai: Market benchmark indices declined in early trade on Wednesday, extending their previous day’s fall, dragged down by IT counters and a weak trend in the US equities.

The 30-share BSE Sensex fell 100.87 points to 61,831.60 after a flat start to the trade. The NSE Nifty dipped 29.1 points to 18,257.40.

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Among the Sensex firms, Wipro, Infosys, HCL Technologies, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Hindustan Unilever, Bajaj Finserv, and Bajaj Finance were the major laggards.

Bharti Airtel, IndusInd Bank, Larsen & Toubro, ITC, UltraTech Cement, and State Bank of India were among the gainers.

In Asia, Seoul, and Tokyo markets were trading in the green, while Shanghai and Hong Kong quoted lower.

The US market ended lower on Tuesday.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were buyers on Tuesday as they bought equities worth Rs 1,406.86 crore, according to exchange data.

“As a batsman approaches a century, he might get stuck for a while in the ‘nervous nineties’. It appears that the market is in a similar state while approaching a new all-time high.

“Even though the conditions are favourable for a new record, there are near-term issues like the US debt ceiling impasse which can weigh over global markets in the near-term,” V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, said.

Meanwhile, global oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.16 per cent to USD 75.03 per barrel.

On Tuesday, the 30-share BSE benchmark had declined 413.24 points or 0.66 per cent to settle at 61,932.47. The Nifty went lower by 112.35 points or 0.61 per cent to end at 18,286.50.

“Caution is likely to prevail further and one may see extended profit-booking in next few sessions, as investors would focus on global mood,” Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP (Research) at Mehta Equities Ltd, said.