Mumbai, Jul 25 (IANS): A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Wednesday closed 74 points down. Metal, consumer durables and power stocks mostly came under selling pressure.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,899.01 points, was ruling at 16,844.05 points (provisional), 0.44 percent or 74.03 points down from its previous day's close at 16,918.08 points.

The BSE metal index was down 206.94 points, followed by the consumer durables index, down 104.86 points, and power index, down 25.77 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was ruling 0.37 percent down at 5,109.25 points.

The main losers were Jindal Steel, down 4.16 percent at Rs.397.45; Tata Steel, down 2.54 percent at Rs.386.90; Hindalco Inds, down 2.35 percent at Rs.114.35; Hindustan Unilever, down 2.32 percent at Rs.465; and Bharti Airtel, down 2.24 percent at Rs.301.25.

Major Sensex gainers were ITC, up 1.56 percent at Rs.254.40; Sun Pharma, up 1.27 percent at Rs.616; Gail India, up 0.53 percent at Rs.344.45; Cipla, up 0.51 percent at Rs.327.50; and Bajaj Auto, up 0.45 percent at Rs.1,566.40.