New Delhi: Indian stock benchmarks began trading in the negative zone on Wednesday based on signals from global markets. Asian equities struggled as US Treasury yields hit new highs in two years and a global sell-off of technology stocks left unsettled investors.
At home, at 9:18 a.m., the 30-share BSE Sensex package was down 253 points, or 0.42 percent, to 60,502, and the broader NSE Nifty was down 77 points, or 0.42 percent, to 18,037.
Mid and small cap stocks were weak as the Nifty Midcap 100 index plunged 0.76 percent and small cap stocks traded 0.58 percent lower.
On the stock-specific front, Wipro was the top loser as the stock cracked 1.40 percent to Rs 624.45. IndusInd Bank, Shree Cement, HDFC Life and Tech Mahindra were also among the laggards.
On the other hand, ONGC, Bajaj Finance, Tata Steel, Coal India and Mahindra & Mahindra were among the winners.
Overall market size was negative as 1,134 shares rose, while 1,418 shares fell for BSE.
On the 30-share BSE platform, Wipro, Infosys, IndusInd Bank, Tech Mahindra, Sun Pharma and HCL Tech suffered the most losses, with a whopping 1.67 percent loss in early trading.
Bajaj Finance, Tata Steel, Bajaj Finserv, Maruti, Reliance Industries and PowerGrid were among the winners.
Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex was down 554 points, or 0.90 percent, to 60,755 on Tuesday, while the broader NSE Nifty was 195 points, or 1.07 percent, lower at 18,113.