Sensex, Nifty close in red; oil and gas stocks fall

Mumbai, June 26 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Thursday's trade 251.07 points or 0.99 percent down as oil and gas stocks tanked.

The markets were cautious on the expiry day of the June derivatives and the deteriorating security situation in Iraq.

Heavy selling pressure was observed in oil and gas, bank and metal sectors, while healthy buying was sustained in capital goods, consumer durables and healthcare stocks.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,217.69 points, closed the day's trade at 25,062.67 points (provisional), down 251.07 points or 0.99 percent from the previous day's close at 25,313.74 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 25,309.33 points and a low of 25,021.23 points in the intra-trade.

The S&P BSE oil and gas index tanked 443.57 points, followed by bank index which dropped 197.99 points and metal index which was lower by 151.94 points.

However, capital goods index gained 139.36 points, consumer durables index rose by 60.32 points and healthcare index was up 36.67 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) ended 76.05 points or one percent down at 7,493.20 points.