Stock markets decline for 2nd day on selling in oil, gas, banking shares

Stock markets closed lower for the second consecutive day on Wednesday as investors remained cautious amid conflicting geopolitical signals from the West Asia and fresh foreign fund outflows. In a volatile trade, the 30-share BSE Sensex declined 141.90 points, or 0.19 per cent, to settle at 75,867.80, with 20 of its constituents ending higher and 10 with losses. During the day, it hit a high of 76,224.68 and a low of 75,748.21, gyrating 476.47 points. The 50-share NSE Nifty skidded 6.55 points, or 0.03 per cent, to end at 23,907.15. Sensex had dropped by 479.26 points and Nifty by 118 points on Tuesday. Financials, oil & gas, IT and private banking shares were the major drag while energy, metals, and auto shares advanced, capping the downside. Among 30 Sensex firms, HDFC Bank fell the most by 2.63 per cent. Infosys, ITC, Hindustan Unilever, Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank were also among the major laggards. Power Grid, Eternal, NTPC and Tata Steel were the major ...