Sensex breaches 41,000 mark

Mumbai: Market benchmark BSE Sensex retreated from its record high level to close down by around 68 points on Tuesday mainly due to profit booking in telecom, IT and auto stocks amid growth concerns and evolving political drama in Maharashtra.

The 30-share index touched its all-time intra-day high of 41,120.28 before closing down by 67.93 points or 0.17 per cent at 40,821.30.

The broader Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also soared to a new peak of 12,132.45 in day trade before giving up gains to end lower by 36.05 points or 0.30 per cent at 12,037.70.

Bharti Airtel was the biggest loser among Sensex stocks. Key IT stocks TCS and Infosys also dropped by 1.6 per cent and 1.05 per cent, respectively, as investors preferred to book profits at high levels. Auto stocks also declined due to growth concerns.

Sectorally, BSE telecom index plunged 4.93 per cent, followed by teck, IT, capital goods, industrials, auto, realty and power indices that declined up to 1.95 per cent.

However, BSE bankex, finance and FMCG indices closed in green. Broader BSE midcap and smallcap indices declined up to 0.79 per cent at close.

On the currency front, the rupee appreciated 20 paise (intra-day) against the $ to 71.53. Brent futures, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.18 per cent to $62.73 per barrel.