Among sectors, the Nifty Auto index was the top laggard, down 0.5 per cent. On the flipside, the Nifty Media index climbed 2.6 per cent.
Sensex Today: After scaling a fresh record high in intraday trade on Monday, the benchmark Nifty50 index started 50 points lower on Tuesday at 22,073 amid tepid global sentiment.
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The S&P BSE Sensex, meanwhile, opened 167 points lower at 72,541 levels.
Power Grid, Kotak Bank, Ultratech Cement, HDFC Bank, and Asian Paints were the top gainers on the BSE benchmark, while M&M, Bajaj Finserv, ICICI Bank, Tata Motors, HCL Tech, and Maruti Suzuki were the top laggards.
In the broader market space, the BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices were mixed with the former slipping 0.17 per cent but the latter rising 0.13 per cent.
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Among sectors, the Nifty Auto index was the top laggard, down 0.5 per cent. On the flipside, the Nifty Media index climbed 2.6 per cent.
Shares of ZEE soared 6 per cent after The Economic Times reported that Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) and Sony Group are in discussions that may save the $10 billion merger the Japanese conglomerate had called off on January 22.
Shares of Deepak Fertilisers jumped 10 per cent after the industrial chemicals and fertilisers producer and a Norway based international energy company, Equinor, entered into a long-term supply agreement for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
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Shares of Whirlpool of India dropped 3 per cent after nearly 9 million equity shares changed hands in block deals today. Promoter firm, Whirlpool Mauritius was expected to sell 30.4 million shares, or 24% stake, via block deals today.
Global Cues
Asian shares were pinned below 1-1/2 month highs on Tuesday as even a larger-than-expected interest rate cut in China failed to excite investors jaded at the lack of bigger stimulus measures.
Tokyo stocks opened marginally higher on Tuesday as investors awaited a fresh sense of direction from Wall Street. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index added 0.11 per cent, or 43.00 points, to 38,513.38 at the open, while the broader Topix index climbed 0.24 per cent, or 6.34 points, to 2,646.03.
