Mumbai, Dec 20 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian equities Tuesday slumped 1.33 percent, closing in the red for the fifth straight day, on continued selling pressure by foreign funds.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the positive at 15,436.12 points, ended the day at 15,175.08 points, down 204.26 points or 1.33 percent from its previous close at 15,379.34 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 15,448.13 points and low of 15,135.86 points in the intra-day trade.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also ended in the red for the fifth straight session. The Nifty closed 1.49 percent or 68.90 points down at 4,544.20 points.
Broader markets and most of the sectoral indices also ended in the red. The BSE midcap index slumped 1.86 percent while the BSE smallcap index closed 1.45 percent down.
There was heavy selling pressure in metal, realty, consumer goods, power and oil and gas stocks. The metal and the consumer goods indices of the BSE slumped almost 3.5 percent. Realty index fell 2.71 percent and the power index closed 2.59 percent down.