Key Indian equity indices open in red

Mumbai Feb 22 (IANS) Taking a cue from global markets the key Indian equity market indices on Thursday opened lower ahead of futures and options (F&O) expiry.

The Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE which had closed at 33 844.86 points on Wednesday opened lower at 33 817.09 points.

Minutes into trading it was quoting at 33 726.79 points down by 118.07 points or 0.35 per cent.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE) the broader 51-scrip Nifty which had closed at 10 397.45 points on Wednesday was quoting at 10 341.60 points down by 55.85 points or 0.54 per cent.

On Wednesday bargain hunting by investors lifted the key Indian equity indices ahead of the F&O expiry snapping a three-day losing streak.

According to market observers healthy buying in IT technology media and entertainment and banking stocks added to the upward trajectory of the benchmark indices.

The Sensex was up by 141.27 points or 0.42 per cent at the Wednesday s closing. In the day s trade the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index had touched a high of 33 911.36 points and a low of 33 702.50 points.

The Nifty too was up by 37.05 points or 0.36 per cent.

On Thursday Asian indices were mostly showing a negative trend.

Japan s Nikkei 225 was trading in red down by 0.91 per cent Hang Seng down by 0.97 per cent while South Korea s Kospi was also down by 0.49 per cent.

China s Shanghai Composite index was the only quoting in green up by 1.91 per cent.

Nasdaq closed in red down by 0.22 per cent while FTSE 100 was up by 0.48 per cent at the closing on Wednesday.

--IANS
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