Sensex ends 127 points lower; RIL sheds over 2%

Indian benchmark equity indices settled lower on Monday amid a mixed trend in Asian peers. BSE Sensex ended 127.31 points or 0.22% lower at 58,177.76, while the broader NSE Nifty retreated 13.95 points or 0.08% to 17,355.30. Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries, shedding over 2%, was the top laggard on the 30-share gauge followed by ICICI Bank, HUL, HDFC Bank, M&M, Ultra Cement, IndusInd Bank and Tech Mahindra. TCS, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finserv, Tata Steel, Maruti and Kotak Bank were among the gainers. Of 30 Sensex stocks, 20 settled higher. Sectoral indices on the NSE ended mixed. Nifty Media, closing over 1% higher, was the top sectoral gainer followed by Nifty Metal, Nifty IT and Nifty Realty. On the other hand, Nifty Bank and Nifty Financial Services were among the laggards. Overall, market breadth was positive as 1,720 shares advanced on the BSE, while 1,543 declined and 205 remained unchanged. Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Seoul and Tokyo closed in the positive territory, while Hong Kong ended in the red.