Mumbai, July 8 (IANS) After a handsome rally the previous day, Indian equities markets were hit by profit booking Friday, with a benchmark index slipping below the 19,000-mark.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) which opened at 19,084.06 points, closed at 18,858.04 points, down 220.26 points or 1.15 percent from its previous close at 19,078.3 points.

It had moved up to 19,131.7 points minutes after opening. The Sensex had rallied 351 points Thursday.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange ended 1.19 percent lower at 5,660.65 points.

Broader markets too were ruling dull with the BSE midcap index 0.61 percent down and the BSE smallcap index down 0.86 percent.

The market breadth was negative with 1,127 stocks advancing, 1,757 on the decline and 121 remaining unchanged.

Realty, auto and consumer durables stocks were among the top gainers. Among losers were metals, PSU, FMCG and oil and gas scrips.

Among gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex were DLF, up 1.22 percent at Rs.236.85; Hero Honda, up 1.01 percent at Rs.1,900.55; ONGC, up 0.42 percent at Rs.276.20; and Bajaj Auto, up 0.14 percent at Rs.1,456.95.

The losers on the benchmark were Sterlite Industries, down 3.94 percent at Rs.163.40; Hindalco, down 3.73 percent at Rs.188.40; Jaiprakash Associates, down 3.04 percent at Rs.79.65 and ICICI Bank, down 2.71 percent at Rs.1,060. 

According to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India, foreign institutional investors bought stocks worth $168.85 million Friday.

Asian markets closed mostly in the green.

The Nikkei of the Japanese stock exchange closed 0.66 percent up at 10,137.73 points.

The Hang Seng of the Hong Kong stock exchange ended 0.87 percent up at 22,726.43 points, while the Chinese Shanghai composite index closed on a flat note at 2,797.77 points.

European markets were ruling dull.