Sensex loses 61 points; metal, banking stocks dip

Mumbai, July 18 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Friday was trading 61.47 points or 0.24 percent down as metal and banking stocks tanked.

Good buying was observed in IT sector, while selling pressure was seen in metal, banking, auto, oil and gas and capital goods stocks.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,558.48 points, was trading at 25,499.69 points (at 09.46 a.m.) in the early session, down 61.47 points or 0.24 percent from the previous day's close at 25,561.16 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 25,570.85 points and a low of 25,441.24 points in the trade so far.

The S&P BSE IT index surged by 177.07 points, while metal index dipped by 194.45 points, bankex fell by 155.61 points, auto index plummeted by 140.42 points, oil and gas index went down by 109.07 points and capital goods index slipped by 126.32 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading 34.45 points or 0.45 percent down at 7,606 points.