A benchmark index for Indian equities was trading lower Monday afternoon despite positive Asian markets.The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,056.24 points, was ruling at 18,071.5 points, 59.48 points or 0.33 percent down from its previous close at 18,130.98 points.
At the National Stock Exchange(NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was trading at 5,430.8 points, down 0.34 percent from its previous close at 5,449.1 points.
Broader markets indices were also in a decline, with the BSE midcap index 0.43 percent down and the BSE smallcap index flat.
Telecom, consumer durables, and IT scrips were doing well, while auto stocks scrips saw bulk of the selling.
The market breadth was negative, with 1,296 scrips advancing, compared to 1,490 stocks declining, and 102 remaining unchanged.
Other major Asian markets were trading in the positive as most European banks passed a “stress test” and on robust corporate earnings results in the US.
The Japanese Nikkei closed 0.77 percent higher at 9,503.669 points, while the South Korean Kospi ended with a 0.63 percent gain at 1,769.07 points.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up a modest 0.25 percent at 20,860.01 points, while the Chinese Shanghai Composite index was ruling 0.65 percent higher at 2,588.68 points.