Sensex, Nifty lose their way, end on a negative note

The flagship Sensex today touched an all-time high during the day, but lost nerve soon to close down after muted auto sales numbers as investors digested the outcome of the Federal Reserve meeting.

The US central bank left interest rates on hold at the end of its two-day policy meet, but remains on track for a December hike as it cited "solid rate" of growth. The market focus now shifts to the announcement of the next Fed chair.

A widening probe by US authorities involving top drug companies following complaints of price fixing of generics was a point of worry for the participants, said analysts.

The Nifty came back to the ground as it finished down by 16.70 points, or 0.16 per cent, at 10,423.80. It had closed at a record high of 10,440.50 yesterday.

During the session, the BSE index scaled an all-time high of 33,657.57, but a drive to take profit saw the barometer end at 33,573.22, down 27.05 points -- or 0.08 per cent.

The Sensex had closed at a new peak of 33,600.27 yesterday by rallying 387 points.

Muted September quarter earnings by some blue-chip companies and lower-than-expected sales data from automakers for October with a single-digit growth made investors develop cold feet, traders said.

"Subdued factory activity and auto sales numbers weighed on investor sentiment, but pharma's rise on FDA positivity held index from slipping much. Investors will keep an eye on decision on new Fed chair for change in rate trajectory...," said Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit Financial Services.

Hero MotoCorp hit a speed bump, falling 2.19 per cent -- the most -- to Rs 3,733.05 after its Q2 earnings fell short of market expectations. ITC Ltd followed with a loss of 1.52 per cent to Rs 265.60.

ONGC, SBI, Hindustan Unilever, M&M, Bajaj Auto, Kotak Bank and Axis Bank weighed heavy, declining by up to 1.52 per cent.

Lupin, Sun Pharma, Power Grid and Dr Reddy's pulled away and ended in positive terrain, which contained the damage. Shares of Divi's Laboratories today zoomed 16.73 per cent after it said the US health regulator will lift an import alert imposed on the company's Unit-II in Visakhapatnam. The tide turned when foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 1,038.31 crore yesterday. But domestic institutional investors (DIIs) gave up equities worth a net Rs 667.91 crore, as per provisional data.

Asian stocks traded both ways and European shares were down as the Bank of England looks set to take a policy call.

Back to domestic markets, the BSE FMCG, auto, oil and gas all traded in the red, down by up to 0.93 per cent.

The broader markets outperformed the key indices as the mid-cap index rose 0.47 per cent and small-cap 0.41 per cent.