Sensex sheds over 100 points after railway budget

Mumbai, July 8 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 117.19 points or 0.45 percent down in the afternoon session Tuesday, after the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government presented its maiden railway budget.

The index had hit a new high of 26,190.44 points during the early session of the day.

Almost all the stocks were trading in the red. Selling pressure was seen in metal, capital goods, oil and gas, auto and banking sectors.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 26,166.92 points, was trading at 25,982.89 points (at 01.23 p.m.) in the afternoon session, down 117.19 points or 0.45 percent from the previous day's close at 26,100.08 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,190.44 points and a low of 25,897.33 points in the trade.

The S&P BSE metal index plunged by 303.88 points, capital goods index dropped by 233.49 points, oil and gas index slipped by 134.33 points, auto index plummeted by 81.28 points and bankex went down by 80.14 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading 39.85 points or 0.51 percent down at 7,747.30 points.