Mumbai: A benchmark index of Indian equities market closed in the red due to last-hour profit booking in auto, oil and gas and banking stocks in a lackluster session on Wednesday.
The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,118.82 points, ended the day at 20,013.23 points, down 0.23 per cent or 47.09 points (provisional).
Maruti Suzuki fell 2.45 per cent to Rs.1,394. Hero Hoda declined nearly two per cent, and Reliance Industries closed 1.25 per cent down.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty slipped below 6,000 points mark due to last hour selling pressure.
The Nifty closed 0.30 percent down at 5,982.65 (provisional).
Most sectoral indices closed flat. The BSE midcap index ended almost flat at 7,621 points and the BSE smallcap index advanced 0.41 per cent.