Sensex ends below 36,000 level, Nifty holds 11,000 level ahead of Budget

A day before the Budget, key Indian equity indices ended in the red today with the Sensex slipping below the psychologically important 36,000-mark and the Nifty50 closing just above the 11,000-level, as participants trimmed positions amid fresh outflow by foreign funds.

Except banking and financial services, all Nifty indices were in the negative teritorry.

Infratel, Kotak Mahindra Bank, BPCL, Tech Mahindra and Reliance were among the gainers in the Nifty50 index, while DrReddy's, Tata Steel,  Hindustan Unilever, UPL, Indiabulls Housing Finance stocks shed.

The trend was bearish as 21 shares advanced against 28 declines on the benchmark Nifty. 

Negative global cues, coupled with heavy selling pressure in consumer durables, capital goods and healthcare stocks, pulled the key Indian equity indices lower for the second consecutive session, an IANS report said.

Besides, investors turned cautious and booked profits ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget 2018-19 tomorrow.

Wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed 0.20% lower at 11,027.70 points, while the BSE Sensex, which opened at 35,951.64 points, ended 0.19% at 35,965.02 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 36,047.67 points and a low of 35,834.04 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was bearish as 1,911 stocks declined against 799 advances.

Yesterday, the equity indices closed in the red on profit booking and weak global cues.

The Nifty50 fell 0.73% to close at 11,049.65 points, while the Sensex closed at 36,033.73 points, down 0.69%.