Sensex dull; oil prices, auto stocks depress markets

Mumbai -  A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Friday  continued to trade listless amid dull global cues. Auto stocks were among bigger losers at this time with a labour strike at auto maker major  Maruti Suzuki. Rising price of crude too had a dampening effect.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,390.41 points, was ruling at 18,334.86 points -- down 50.04 points or 0.27 percent from its previous close at 18,384.9 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading subdued at 5,502.8 points, down 0.33 percent.

Global prices of crude rose to about $102 a barrel (159 litres). This is expected to raise pressure on the government to go in for a hike of fuel like diesel, cooking gas and kerosene, which might result in inflation spiking again.

Broader markets too were flat with the BSE midcap index nudging up a meagre 0.07 percent and the BSE smallcap index rising 0.21 percent.

The market breadth was tilted towards the positive with 1,184 stocks advancing, 1,060 on the decline and 101 remaining unchanged.

Auto stocks were among the major losers as the strike at Maruti Suzuki at Manesar plant continued for the seventh day Friday and labour unions at other automobile companies hinted they too may join the stir.

FMCG and energy stocks too were in the red.

Among gainers on the Sensex were Hindalco, TCS, ONGC and Wipro while losers on the benchmark index included Maruti Suzuki, ITC, Hero Honda and RIL.

Asian markets were trading mixed, giving up their earlier gains.

The Nikkei of the Japanese stock exchange was ruling 0.3 percent up at 9,495.13 points, while the Hang Seng of the Hong Kong stock exchange shed 0.69 percent to rule at 22,454.7 points.

The Chinese Shanghai composite index was trading 0.2 percent lower at 2,697.99 points.