Mumbai, Nov 4 (IANS): Global uncertainty over the US presidential election four days later overweighed the crucial decision on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates, and dragged the Indian equity markets on Friday.

Both the key indices provisionally closed the day's trade in the red, as heavy selling pressure was witnessed in healthcare, capital goods, and metal stocks.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) edged down by 51.20 points or 0.60 per cent, to 8,433.75 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 27,465.55 points, provisionally closed at 27,274.15 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- down 156.13 points or 0.57 per cent, from its previous close at 27,430.28 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 27,498.91 points and a low of 27,193.61 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was skewed in favour of the bears -- with 2,205 declines and 696 advances.

On Thursday, the benchmark indices were dragged by global cues. The barometer index had declined by 96.94 points or 0.35 per cent, while the NSE Nifty edged down by 29.05 points or 0.34 per cent.