SENSEXS ENDS THE WEEK ON WEAKNOTE

The benchmark Sensex today extended its losing streak for the sixth session in a row, slipping by 133.06 points and logging its worst week in two months due to poor bluechip earnings coupled with uncertainty in view of Delhi assembly polls. Sustained foreign capital outflows and mixed global cues also affected trading sentiment, said stock market dealers. Shares of auto, healthcare, banking, power, oil & gas and consumer durable were among the major laggards of the day. The BSE Sensex resumed higher at 28,892.21 and firmed up further to a high of 28,922.85 on initial buying. However, it declined afterwards to 28,647.14 before concluding at 28,717.91, logging a net loss of 133.06 points or 0.46 per cent, from Thursday's close. On a weekly basis, the Sensex lost 465.04 points. This is its biggest weekly drop since the week ending December 12, 2014 when it had plunged by 1,107.42 points. "Tata Motors dropped post weak Q3 results and other auto stocks also showed weak trend. Cement stocks were also among major losers. Weak global cues and speculation ahead of Delhi assembly elections led to further fall on the bourses," said Bonanza Portfolio, Associate Fund Manager, Hiren Dhakan. The CNX 50-share Nifty also fell by 50.65 points or 0.58 per cent to below the 8,700-mark at 8,661.05. Asian stock markets ended mixed ahead of the closely- watched US jobs report. Key indices in Japan, Singapore and South Korea moved up by 0.14 per cent to 0.82 per cent while the indices in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan finished lower by 0.35 per cent to 1.93 per cent. European stocks were trading lower after reports of disappointing German industrial production and as concerns mounted over Greece's future in the euro zone. Key benchmark indices in Germany, France and the UK were off by 0.42 per cent to 0.85 per cent. Foreign Portfolio Investors sold Indian shares worth a net Rs 27.43 crore yesterday, as per provisional data.