Mumbai, Aug 16 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Tuesday slipped below the 17,000-mark in the afternoon but managed to hold on to some of its early gains. Telecom, IT and capital goods scrips were among major gainers at this time.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 17,015.99 points, was ruling 16,921.41 points, up 81.78 points or 0.49 percent compared to its previous close at 17,130.51 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading 0.43 percent higher at 5,094.74 points.
Broader markets too were ruling on a subdued note.
The market breadth at the BSE was tilted towards the negative, with 1,172 stocks moving up, compared to 1,387 on the decline.
Among gainers on the BSE were Bharti Airtel, BHEL, Sterlite and Coal India while losers included DLF, HDFC, Maruti Suzuki and Tata Steel.
Other major Asian markets were ruling quiet ahead of a key meeting between French and German leaders on chalking out measures to contain the sovereign debt crisis in Europe.
The benchmark Japanese Nikkei was ruling 0.23 percent higher at 9,107.43 points, while the Chinese Shanghai Composite index ended 0.86 percent lower at 2,604.21 points.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.26 percent to rule at 20,208.34 points.