Mumbai, Sep 15 (IANS): Despite strong macro-economic data, investors remained cautious ahead of the upcoming decision on the US rate hike, leading to a barometer index of the Indian equities provisionally closing over 150 points in the red on Tuesday.

Investors were cautious ahead of the upcoming decision by the US Fed on raising or otherwise of US interest rates.

Even the better-than-expected inflation and modest factory output data, which had cheered investors with hopes of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India, did not support buying in the markets.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) had gained 246.49 points or 0.96 percent on Monday after inflation data points such as wholesale price index (WPI) and consumer price index (CPI) were released.

On Tuesday, the wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) fell by 53.50 points or 0.68 percent to provisionally close at 7,818.75 points.

The S&P BSE Sensex, which opened at 25,908.34 points, provisionally closed at 25,705.93 points (at 3.35 p.m.) -- down 150.77 points or 0.58 percent from the previous day's close at 25,856.70 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 25,909.83 points and a low of 25,649.37 points in the intra-day trade.