Equities close lower on global cues, selling pressure (Second Lead)

Mumbai March 22 (IANS) Key Indian equity indices provisionally closed on a lower note on Thursday as negative European markets along with selling pressure in banking auto and capital goods stocks suppressed investors sentiments.

The key indices had opened on a higher note after the US Federal Reserve raised the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points signalling two more rate hikes in 2018.

The wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) fell by 40.50 points or 0.40 per cent to provisionally close at 10 114.75 points (at 3.30 p.m.).

The barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE which opened at 33 206.99 points closed at 33 006.27 points -- down 129.91 points or 0.39 per cent from the previous session s close.

The Sensex touched a high of 33 281.77 points and a low of 32 963.31 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was bearish with 2 010 declines and 709 advances.

On Wednesday value buying pushed the key indices higher even as some gains were ceded on caution ahead of the US Federal Reserve s FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meet.

The Sensex closed the day s trade at 33 136.18 points -- up 139.42 points or 0.42 per cent -- while the Nifty50 gained 30.90 points or 0.31 per cent to close at 10 155.25 points.

--IANS
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