Profit booking kicks in, Sensex down 211 points

Mumbai (IANS)- A key index for Indian equities Tuesday fell 211 points in noon trade after traders chose to book profits and Asian markets turned negative.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,777.95 points, was ruling at 17,562.42 points, 211.84 points or 1.19 percent down from its previous close at 17,774.26 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 5,264.75 points, down 1.29 percent from its previous close at 5,333.5 points.

Broader markets indices too were in the red with the BSE midcap index ruling 0.41 percent lower and the BSE smallcap index 0.26 percent down.

Profit booking hit metals, oil and gas, and banking scrips.

All the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE were in the red.