Sensex down by 162 pts; traders liquidate long positions

Mumbai, Oct 4 (UNI) The Bombay Stock Exchange Sensitive Index (Sensex) suffered losses in excess of 162 points as traders liquidated long held positions leading sensex to finally close at 12,204.01.

The BSE index today swung 240.82 points, as the index oscillated to a high of 12,419.65 points, after refinery and auto shares edged higher on account of decline in crude oil price, however it came down to touch a low of 12,178.83 primarily on selling pressure in Consumer Durables, Metals and PSU sector scrips.

Weak Asian markets also weighed on the domestic bourses, as it raised concerns over possible sales of hedge funds. It was rumoured investors planned to book profit to make up for loses in energy related investments globally. Asian markets were weak on account of North Korea announcing nuclear tests.

The BSE today clocked a turnover of Rs 3,416 crores compared to 3,092 crores yesterday.

Crude prices however came down to US Dollar 58.45 a barrel mark, lowest in seven and half months.

Amongst the BSE sectoral indices CD was down by 1.58 per cent, Teck down by 1.47 and PSU sector was down by 1.50 per cent.

The breadth in the broader market too turned negative in favour of 1,439 declines as against 1031 advances out of total 2534 scrips that traded the BSE counters today.

The list of gainers had to satisfy with just two entries, Bajaj Auto up by 1.85 per cent to Rs 3,087.25 and Tata Motors up by 1.22 per cent to Rs 880.25.

Besides the losers were HDFC Bank down by 3.08 per cent to Rs 892.45, BHEL down by 2.86 per cent to Rs 2,301.60, Hero Honda down by 2.66 per cent to Rs 751.20, TCS down by 2.60 per cent to Rs 988.10, HDFC down by 2.48 per cent to Rs 1,440.70, Satyam Computers down by 2.34 per cent to Rs 802.85, NTPC down by 2.25 per cent to Rs 130.20, Reliance Communications down by 2.23 per cent to Rs 339.60, ONGC down by 2.21 per cent to Rs 1,133.30 and Maruti Udyog down by 2.14 per cent to Rs 947.30.

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