Equities slip on negative global cues, profit booking (Second Lead)

Mumbai March 20 (IANS) Broadly negative global cues and heavy selling pressure witnessed in IT banking and Teck (technology media and entertainment) stocks dragged the Indian equity markets lower on Monday.

The key indices provisionally closed in the red with losses as investors took to book profits.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) fell by 33.20 points or 0.36 per cent to 9 126.85 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE which opened at 29 653.54 points provisionally closed at 29 518.74 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- down 130.25 points or 0.44 per cent from the previous close at 29 648.99 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 29 699.48 points and a low of 29 482.40 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was marginally bearish -- with 1 449 declines and 1 353 advances.

Last week the equity markets closed with marginal gains and the benchmark NSE Nifty hit another record intra-day high crossing the psychologically significant 9 200-mark for the first time.

The Nifty closed slightly up by 6.35 points or 0.07 per cent at 9 160.05 points while the Sensex closed at 29 648.99 points -- up 63.14 points or 0.21 per cent.

--IANS
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