Sensex closes 154 points lower

A benchmark index of the Indian equities market pared some of its intra-day losses to close 154 points lower.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,791.22 points, closed at 19,644.83 (provisional) – down 154.36 points or 0.78 percent from its previous close of 19,799.19.

It had slipped over 228 points during the day to the intra-day low of 19,571.43 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty shut shop at 5,888.75 points – down 0.93 percent.

Broader markets were in the red too, with the BSE midcap index ending 1.46 percent down and the BSE smallcap index closing 1.55 percent lower.