Mumbai, May 24 (IANS): Negative global cues and heavy selling pressure in capital goods, healthcare and metal stocks pulled the Indian equity markets lower on Wednesday.

Besides, a flat rupee, coupled with caution ahead of derivatives expiry, capped gains.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) fell by 16.40 points or 0.17 per cent to provisionally close at 9,369.75 points.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 30,446.77 points, provisionally closed at 30,301.64 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- down 63.61 points or 0.21 per cent from its previous close at 30,365.25 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 30,534.15 points and a low of 30,247.60 points during intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was bearish -- with 2,019 declines and 700 advances.

On Tuesday, the Nifty closed at 9,386.15 points -- down 52.10 points or 0.55 per cent, while the Sensex tanked over 200 points or 0.67 per cent to close at 30,365.25 points.