The Sensex and Nifty fell over 0.3 per cent at the closing session on Wednesday due to profit-booking by funds and retail investors amid weak global cues.

The 30-share BSE index Sensex, which had gained over 562 points in the past four sessions after the BJP-led NDA swept the polls, ended at 24,298.02, down 78.86 points.

Similarly, the 50-share NSE index National Stock Exchange index Nifty ended at 7,252.90, down 22.6 points.

Among BSE sectoral indices, capital goods and banking fell the most by 1.63 per cent and 1.07 per cent, respectively, followed by consumer durables 0.42 per cent and healthcare 0.35 per cent.

On the other hand, realty, IT, FMCG and auto indices remained investors' favourite and were up 1.9 per cent, 0.79 per cent, 0.64 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively.

Bajaj Auto, Hindalco, NTPC, SSLT and Coal India were the top five Sensex gainers, while the top five losers were SBI, BHEL, Axis Bank, L&T and Bharti Airtel.

European stocks fell for a third day as investors awaited data on consumer confidence in the euro area.

Asian shares were down as the Bank of Japan refrained from boosting stimulus as the economy shows signs of weathering the impact of the first sales-tax increase since 1997. The central bank will continue to expand the monetary base at a pace of ¥60 trillion to ¥70 trillion per year, it said in a statement.

Investors also awaited the release of minutes of Fed meet later today to get some clues on future of the central bank’s stimulus programme and its assessment of the US economy.

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