Markets fall in early trade dragged by IT stocks, foreign fund outflows

New Delhi: Benchmark equity indices declined in early trade on Thursday dragged by IT stocks and continuous foreign fund outflows.

The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 227.72 points to 70,832.59. The Nifty dipped 55.7 points to 21,398.25.

Among the Sensex firms, Tech Mahindra fell nearly 4 percent after the company on Wednesday reported a 60 percent decline in net profit to Rs 510.4 crore in the December quarter.

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HCL Technologies, Infosys, Wipro, Axis Bank, Tata Consultancy Services, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank were among the other major laggards.

IndusInd Bank, NTPC, Hindustan Unilever, and the State Bank of India were among the gainers.

In Asian markets, Shanghai and Hong Kong were quoting in the positive territory while Seoul and Tokyo traded lower.

The US markets ended on a mixed note on Wednesday.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 6,934.93 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.36 percent to USD 80.33 a barrel.

"Volatility is expected due to the January F&O contracts expiry. Negative catalysts include FIIs selling, WTI oil spiking, and diminishing prospects of the US rate cuts," said Prashanth Tapse, Senior VP (Research), Mehta Equities Ltd.

The BSE benchmark jumped 689.76 points, or 0.98 percent, to settle at 71,060.31 on Wednesday.

The NSE Nifty ended 215.15 points, or 1.01 percent, higher at 21,453.95.

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