Sensex ends in red as volumes plunge on bandh day

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,473.83 points, closed at 17,441.44 points, 19.51 points or 0.11 percent down from its previous close at 17,460.95 points in dull trade.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 5,235.9 points, down 0.02 percent from its previous close at 5,237.1 points.
On Dalal-Street, the impact of the Bandh was evident as volumes were low, indicating a lack of participation by investors and traders.

Broader markets indices were in the positive terrain, with the BSE midcap index ending 0.29 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index 0.32 percent up. Oil and gas, and metal stocks saw some selling, while healthcare and IT stocks were among gainers.

The market breadth was positive, with 1,614 scrips on the advance, compared to 1,238 stocks declining, and 119 remaining unchanged. Among the gainers on the Sensex were M&M, up 1.33 percent at Rs.610.30, Wipro, up 0.89 percent at Rs.389.60, Bharti Airtel, up 0.81 percent at Rs.267, and HDFC, up 0.81 percent at Rs.2,939.25.

Prominent losers included Reliance Communications, down 2.88 percent at Rs.185.60; Hindalco, down 1.73 percent at Rs.141.60; ONGC, down 1.45 percent at Rs.1,286.10; and BHEL, down 1.27 percent at Rs.2,359.75.

Other Asian markets were mixed after the US jobs data for June failed to meet expectations of investors.

Helped by short covering in exporters' stocks, the Japanese Nikkei was up 0.69 percent towards closing bell at 9,266.78 points, while the South Korean Kospi closed 0.21 percent higher at 1,675.37 points.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.32 percent lower at 19,842.20 points, while the Chinese Shanghai Composite index was ruling 0.8 percent lower at 2,363.95 points.
European markets were trading lacklustre as well, with mining and banking stocks coming under selling pressure. The poor US payroll data too weighed heavy on market sentiments.

In Britain, the benchmark index FTSE 100 was ruling 0.06 percent down at 4,835.32 points, while the French CAC 40 was trading 0.02 percent higher at 3,349.08 points.
The German DAX was up 0.19 percent at 5,845.15 points.