Upcoming US macro data dent markets; Sensex closes 563 points down

Mumbai: Expectation of an interest rate hike in the US, strengthening crude oil prices and weakening of rupee value dented investor sentiments -- leading to a barometer index to provisionally close 563 points down on Friday.

Domestic equity markets fell more than 2 per cent on Friday to its lowest in nearly 14 months, on weak global cues amid caution ahead of a key US jobs report due later in the day.

The BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty closed 562.88 points and 167.95 points lower at 25,201.90 and 7,655.05, respectively.

In the 50-share Nifty index, BPCL, Coal India, Bharti Airtel and Lupin closed higher between 0.20 per cent and 1.50 per cent. On the other hand, Vedanta, GAIL, Tata Power, Tata Steel and Hindalco fell between 4 per cent and 5 per cent.

Among the sectoral indices on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the BSE Realty index tumbled the most — 3.32 per cent at 1,242.32, it was followed by the BSE Power index (down 3.03 per cent), BSE Bankex (down 2.65 per cent), BSE Healthcare index (down 2.42 per cent) and BSE Information Technology index (down 2.34 per cent). Rest all other sectoral indices on BSE ended in red.

Market breadth for the day remained negative as advances to declines ratio for Nifty stood at 4:46 for the day.

World shares slid towards their fourth weekly loss in the last five on Friday, as a boost from a supportive-sounding European Central Bank gave way to caution ahead of closely watched US jobs data.