MUMBAI: Snapping three-day rally, the
Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex fell by 28 points today on profit booking
amid reports of rising food inflation.
The Sensex lost 28.31 points
to close at 16,971.70 points as heavyweights like Reliance Industries, Infosys
and ICICI Bank lost ground. The 30-share index had gained over 740 points in the
last three sessions.
The wide-based National Stock Exchange index
Nifty fell by 7.85 points to 5,080.25 points.
Marketmen said
investors were concerned over the rising food inflation, fuelling fears of
tighter government policies.
Food inflation rose to 17.87 per cent
for the week ended February 20 from 17.58 per cent in the previous week, the
official data released today showed.
Weak Asian equity markets and a
lower opening at Europe also influenced the market sentiment, brokers said.
Among the 30 Sensex stocks, 15 ended with gains while the rest
closed with losses. Among sectoral indices, IT, teck, oil and gas and banking
closed in the negative zone.
However, gains in realty, consumer
durable, metal, FMCG, PSU, healthcare and auto stocks saved the market from any
eventuality.
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