Sensex drops 155 pts in early trade; Nifty tests 17,600

New Delhi: Equity benchmark Sensex fell 155 points in early trade on Friday, tracking losses in index-heavyweights TCS, Infosys and Maruti amid a mixed trend in global markets.

The 30-share BSE index was trading 155.21 points or 0.26 percent lower at 59,177.39 in initial deals. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty slipped 37.25 points or 0.21 percent to 17,621.75.

Tech Mahindra was the top loser in the Sensex pack, slipping 1.34 percent, followed by Nestle India, Maruti, Infosys, UltraTech Cement, TCS and Sun Pharma.

On the other hand, Tata Steel, PowerGrid, SBI, NTPC, IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank and Titan were the gainers.

In the previous session, the BSE gauge ended 515.31 points or 0.88 percent higher at 59,332.60 — its highest closing since April 8, 2022. Likewise, the Nifty gained 124.25 points or 124.25 percent to close at 17,659.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers in the Indian capital market on Thursday as they purchased shares worth Rs 2,298.08 crore, as per exchange data.

International oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.40 percent lower at USD 99.20 per barrel.

Equities on Wall Street ended on a mixed note in the overnight session.

Asian equities were upbeat this morning, as Japan's Nikkei added 2.13 percent. Bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul were trading with modest gains in mid-session deals.

(With PTI inputs)

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)