Sensex ends down after six-day rally
Indian stock indexes fell on Friday as investors ended a six-day rally by selling shares after news emerged about potential American scrutiny of Chinese trade commitments. The Sensex dropped 344.52 points to close at 84,211.88 while the Nifty declined 96.25 points to finish at 25,795.15. Consumer goods companies such as Hindustan Unilever and cement producer UltraTech led losses while banking and telecommunications stocks provided limited support.
Metal shares advanced 1.03 percent as the strongest sector, while fast-moving consumer goods stocks retreated 0.75 percent. Analysts said worries about renewed commercial tensions between Washington and Beijing, combined with higher crude oil costs, prompted traders to adopt defensive positions. The broader market indexes for mid-sized and smaller companies each shed roughly 0.2 percent as profit-taking spread across multiple segments.
