Mumbai, July 20 (IANS): Despite positive global cues, the Indian equity markets erased their morning gains to provisionally close in the red on Thursday, as heavy selling pressure was witnessed in metal, auto, healthcare and IT stocks.
The wider Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) fell by 26.30 points, or 0.27 per cent to provisionally close at 9,873.30 points (at 3.30 p.m.).
The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 32,033.82 points, closed at 31,904.40 points -- down 50.95 points, or 0.16 per cent, from the previous close at 31,955.35 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 32,057.12 points and a low of 31,859.50 points during intra-day trade.
The BSE market breadth was bearish with 1,434 declines and 1,284 advances.