Mumbai, Nov 17 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets continued to fall for the sixth straight session and closed Thursday at a six-week low, as concerns on the European debt woes continued to weigh on the bourses.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened lower at 16,754.68 points, closed at 16,461.71 points, down 314.16 points or 1.87 percent from its previous close at 16,775.87 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also ended in the red, 95.7 points or 1.9 percent lower at 4,934.75 points.
Broader markets also ended lower with the BSE 500 index closing 1.81 percent down. The BSE midcap index fell 1.3 percent, while the BSE smallcap index shed 1.15 percent.
The market breadth at the BSE was negative with 897 stocks advancing and 1,927 scrips declining. Another 127 remained unchanged.
According to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors were net sellers Thursday to the tune of $90.77 million.
There were only three gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex: Hero MotoCorp, up 0.71 percent at Rs.2,119.50; Cipla, up 0.42 percent at Rs.311.35 and Sun Pharma, up 0.25 percent at Rs.490.95.
Losers on the benchmark included: Jaiprakash Associates, down 6.49 percent at Rs.62.70; RIL, down 4.51 percent at Rs.810.65; Maruti Suzuki, down 4.44 percent at Rs.948.10 and Tata Motors, down 3.87 percent at Rs.175.10.
Asian markets stocks continued to trade cautious as investors were worried over the European Union's ability to curb the debt crisis from spreading to other economies in the zone.
France and Europe have not yet agreed on the European Central Bank's bond buying role, while a bailout fund created to help out heavily leveraged economies is yet to collect funds.
The Japanese Nikkei closed on a lacklustre note, 0.19 percent up at 8,479.63 points, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.76 percent lower at 18,817.47 points.
The Chinese Shanghai composite index closed flat at 2,463.05 points.
European markets too slipped on the debt woes of countries like Italy and Greece. Britain's FTSE was ruling 1.29 percent lower at 5,437.9 points and the German DAX was trading 0.84 percent down at 5,863.49 points.
The French CAC 40 was ruling 1.41 percent lower at 3,021.73 points.