Mumbai, Jan 25 (IANS): Key Indian equity indices on Thursday provisionally closed in the red -- breaking a six-day gaining streak -- as investors booked profits in auto, IT and consumer durables stocks.

According to market observers, investors turned cautious on the day of January futures and options (F&O) expiry.

The wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange fell by 16.35 points or 0.15 per cent to provisionally close (at 3.30 p.m.) at 11,069.65 points.

Around the same time, the barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 36,208.39 points, closed at 36,050.44 points -- down 111.20 points or 0.31 per cent from its previous session's close.

The BSE market breadth was bearish as 1,706 stocks declined against 1,139 advances.

On Wednesday, the benchmark indices closed in the green -- managing to close at fresh levels with nominal gains after touching new highs on an intra-day basis -- as IT stocks helped cope up with losses.

The Nifty50 inched up 2.30 points or 0.02 per cent to close at a new high of 11,086 points. It crossed the 11,100-mark during intra-day trade and scaled a fresh high of 11,110.10 points.

On the BSE, the Sensex closed at a new high of 36,161.64 points, after scaling a new high of 36,268.19 points during the intra-day trade.