Mumbai: Negative global cues and heavy selling pressure in index heavyweights like Sun Pharma, ITC, Lupin and Axis Bank pulled key Indian equity indices -- the NSE Nifty 50 and the BSE Sensex -- lower on Wednesday.
Sectorwise, the S&P BSE healthcare, FMCG and capital goods indices, among others, slipped into the negative zone.
The wider 51-scrip Nifty 50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) fell by 36.70 points, or 0.37 per cent, to provisionally close at 9,915.50 points (at 3.30 p.m.).
The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 31,713.50 points, closed at 31,661.97 points -- down 147.58 points, or 0.46 per cent, from its previous close at 31,809.55 points.
The BSE market breadth, however, was slightly bullish with 1,331 advances and 1,238 declines.
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The Sensex touched a high of 31,727.85 points and a low of 31,586.53 points during the day's trade.
On Tuesday, the benchmark indices closed on a higher note as positive European markets and persistent purchasing by domestic institutional investors (DIIs) buoyed investors' sentiments.
The Nifty 50 closed at 9,952.20 points -- up 39.35 points or 0.40 per cent, while the Sensex closed at 31,809.55 points -- up 107.30 points or 0.34 per cent.
--IANS