Sensex trades 104 points down; healthcare stocks hit

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading in the negative territory during the late afternoon session. It was down by 37.75 points or 0.45 percent at 8,410.35 points.

The Sensex of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,860.51 points, was trading at 27,782.61 points (at 2.30 p.m.), down 103.60 points or 0.37 percent from the previous day's close at 27,886.21 points.

The Sensex had touched a high of 27,976.93 points and a low of 27,687.07 points in the intra-day trade so far.

In Tuesday's trade so far healthy buying was observed in metal and consumer durables sectors.

However, stocks of healthcare, automobile, oil and gas, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and capital goods came under heavy selling pressure.

The BSE S&P healthcare index plunged by 441.84 points, followed by automobile index which declined by 112.22 points, oil and gas index fell 53.00 points, FMCG index receded by 52.12 points and TECK index was down by 13.00 points.

However, the S&P BSE metal index was up by 59.45 points and consumer durables index was marginally higher by 2.95 points.

On Monday, the BSE Sensitive Index closed 556 points or nearly 2 percent down, due to below-expected quarterly results coupled with negative global cues.

The Sensex had plunged by 620 points in the intra-day trade on Monday as interest rate-sensitive stocks like capital goods, automobile and banks fell.

Fears of more retrospective tax cases impacted foreign investors' sentiments -- which also dented the rupee's value.