Equities shed value, key index ends below 10,000

Mumbai, Oct 23 (IANS) For the second successive day Indian equities markets finished in the red with a key equities index ending below the psychologically important 10,000 mark.

At the close of trading, the benchmark 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange finished at 9,771.70, down 398.20 points or 3.92 percent from its previous close Wednesday at 10,169.90 points.

The Sensex opened very weak at 9,683.41, down 486.49 points or 4.8 percent from its previous close Wednesday, hit a low of 9,681.28 and then recovered enough to get into positive territory on short covering before sliding again to finish in the red.

The broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also opened weak and went below the psychologically important 3,000 mark before recovering somewhat to get into positive territory for a few minutes before falling again to finish at 2943.15, down 122 points or 3.98 percent from its previous close Wednesday at 3065.15 points.

The BSE midcap index finished at 3,378.72, down 111.67 points or 3.20 percent from its previous close Wednesday at 3,490.39 points.

The BSE smallcap index closed at 3,965.70, down 145.99 points or 3.55 percent from its previous close Wednesday at 4,111.69 points.