Markets settle lower on profit-booking on Friday, but gains most in six weeks
The benchmark indices on Friday settled lower as investors booked profits in index heavyweights such as ITC and HDFC ahead of a long weekend, but posted their biggest weekly gain in six weeks.
The S&P BSE Sensex ended at 29,918 down 111 points, while the broader Nifty50 closed at 9,304, down 38 points.
In the broader market, the S&P BSE Midcap and S&P BSE Smallcap indices outperformed to gain 0.2% and 0.6%, respectively.
The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, turned negative from positive. On BSE, 1,479 shares fell and 1,386 shares rose. A total of 136 shares were unchanged.
Nifty Realty index (down 1.7%) was the leading sectoral loser, led by losses in Prestige (down 4%) and Delta Corp (down 4%) and Indiabulls Real Estate (down 3%).
The Nifty Bank pared entire intraday losses to settle 0.1% higher.