<div>Pulling back from a two-week high, the benchmark Sensex today broke its 4-day winning spell by falling over 284 points after the government lowered its economic growth forecast for 2015-16 to 7-7.5 per cent.<br /><br />The commodity rout, including that of oil, only added to the anxiety level, which saw most Asian markets turning weak. With shares linked to commodities again taking a hammering and a lower opening in Europe, sentiment moved south.<br /><br />The government today lowered its economic growth forecast for 2015-16 to 7-7.5 per cent from the earlier 8.1-8.5 per cent, but said budget deficit target will be met as higher tax revenues offset a shortfall in PSU stake sale.<br /><br />The gauge after opening lower stayed in the negative terrain during the session and finally ended 284.56 points, or 1.10 per cent, down at 25,519.22 following profit-booking in recent gainers. Intra-day, it moved between 25,481.51 and 25,789.51.<br /><br />The index had risen about 760 points in the past four sessions. For the week, both indices - BSE and NSE - gained 1.89 per and 1.99 cent, their biggest since October 9.<br /><br />The 50-share NSE Nifty cracked below the 7,800-mark by sliding 82.40 points, or 1.05 per cent at 7,761.95 after shuttling between 7,753.35 and 7,836.15.<div><br />In the previous three sessions, the markets rose largely in tandem with a firming trend overseas after the US Fed, as expected, hiked rates by 0.25 per cent, a hint that the economy is strengthening.<br /><br />Of the 30-share Sensex pack, 28 ended with losses and 2 finished higher. Investors after remaining buyers in the past four sessions were seen booking profits in heavy-weight stocks, brokers said.<br /><br />Stocks of software exporters bore the brunt during the session after the US Congress imposed a special outsourcing fee of up to USD 4,500 on H-1B and L-1 visas, which are popular among Indian IT companies, to fund a 9/11 healthcare Act and biometric tracking system.<br /><br />In the IT segment, Infosys, TCS and Wipro ended lower by up to 1.90 per cent, dragging down the sectoral indices by 1.31 per cent.<br /><br />Others that weighed on the indices include Vedanta Ltd, Lupin, SBI, Hindalco, RIL, Sun Pharma, Bajaj Auto and Dr Reddy's.<br /><br />On the sectoral front, the BSE Metal fell 0.89 per cent, banking 0.88 per cent, healthcare 0.70 per cent and auto 0.69 per cent.<br /><br />However, it was a mixed scene in broader markets, with the mid-cap index climbing 0.08 per cent and the small-cap one shedding 0.24 per cent.<br /><br />Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) net bought shares worth Rs 638.01 crore yesterday, according to provisional data. <br /></div></div>
<div>Pulling back from a two-week high, the benchmark Sensex today broke its 4-day winning spell by falling over 284 points after the government lowered its economic growth forecast for 2015-16 to 7-7.5 per cent.<br /><br />The commodity rout, including that of oil, only added to the anxiety level, which saw most Asian markets turning weak. With shares linked to commodities again taking a hammering and a lower opening in Europe, sentiment moved south.<br /><br />The government today lowered its economic growth forecast for 2015-16 to 7-7.5 per cent from the earlier 8.1-8.5 per cent, but said budget deficit target will be met as higher tax revenues offset a shortfall in PSU stake sale.<br /><br />The gauge after opening lower stayed in the negative terrain during the session and finally ended 284.56 points, or 1.10 per cent, down at 25,519.22 following profit-booking in recent gainers. Intra-day, it moved between 25,481.51 and 25,789.51.<br /><br />The index had risen about 760 points in the past four sessions. For the week, both indices - BSE and NSE - gained 1.89 per and 1.99 cent, their biggest since October 9.<br /><br />The 50-share NSE Nifty cracked below the 7,800-mark by sliding 82.40 points, or 1.05 per cent at 7,761.95 after shuttling between 7,753.35 and 7,836.15.<div><br />In the previous three sessions, the markets rose largely in tandem with a firming trend overseas after the US Fed, as expected, hiked rates by 0.25 per cent, a hint that the economy is strengthening.<br /><br />Of the 30-share Sensex pack, 28 ended with losses and 2 finished higher. Investors after remaining buyers in the past four sessions were seen booking profits in heavy-weight stocks, brokers said.<br /><br />Stocks of software exporters bore the brunt during the session after the US Congress imposed a special outsourcing fee of up to USD 4,500 on H-1B and L-1 visas, which are popular among Indian IT companies, to fund a 9/11 healthcare Act and biometric tracking system.<br /><br />In the IT segment, Infosys, TCS and Wipro ended lower by up to 1.90 per cent, dragging down the sectoral indices by 1.31 per cent.<br /><br />Others that weighed on the indices include Vedanta Ltd, Lupin, SBI, Hindalco, RIL, Sun Pharma, Bajaj Auto and Dr Reddy's.<br /><br />On the sectoral front, the BSE Metal fell 0.89 per cent, banking 0.88 per cent, healthcare 0.70 per cent and auto 0.69 per cent.<br /><br />However, it was a mixed scene in broader markets, with the mid-cap index climbing 0.08 per cent and the small-cap one shedding 0.24 per cent.<br /><br />Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) net bought shares worth Rs 638.01 crore yesterday, according to provisional data. <br /></div></div>