Mumbai, May 31 (IANS) Profit booking, coupled with caution ahead of release of key macro-economic data, depressed the Indian equity markets on Tuesday.
Consequently, the key indices provisionally closed the day's trade flat -- marginally in the red. Selling pressure was witnessed in healthcare, IT (information technology) and capital goods stocks.
The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) slipped by 18.40 points or 0.22 per cent, at 8,160.10 points.
The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 26,817.75 points, provisionally closed at 26,667.96 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- down 57.64 points or 0.22 per cent from the previous close at 26,725.60 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 26,837.20 points and a low of 26,561.58 points during the intra-day trade.
The BSE market breadth was skewed in favour of the bears - with 1,564 declines and 1,001 advances.
The key indices on Monday had closed at their highest levels since October 2015. The equity markets had risen for the fifth consecutive session led by short covering, along with expectations of healthy quarterly results and higher crude oil prices.
The barometer index had edged up by 72 points or 0.27 per cent, while the NSE Nifty had gained by 21.85 points or 0.27 per cent.
