Selling pressure in metal, auto stocks pull equities lower (Second Lead)

Mumbai July 20 (IANS) Despite positive global cues the Indian equity markets erased their morning gains to provisionally close in the red on Thursday as heavy selling pressure was witnessed in metal auto healthcare and IT stocks.

The wider Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) fell by 26.30 points or 0.27 per cent to provisionally close at 9 873.30 points (at 3.30 p.m.).

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE which opened at 32 033.82 points closed at 31 904.40 points -- down 50.95 points or 0.16 per cent from the previous close at 31 955.35 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 32 057.12 points and a low of 31 859.50 points during intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was bearish with 1 434 declines and 1 284 advances.

--IANS
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