Equity benchmark ended in red on Friday, tracking losses in index heavyweights ICICI Bank, Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank amid largely negative cues from global markets. While financials remained a drag, pharma stocks witnessed strong buying due to expectations of improvement in sales volume in the backdrop of spike in new coronavirus cases. As per investors, continued sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the country and resultant mobility restrictions are expected to weigh on sentiment.

The 30-share benchmark index ended at 49591.32 down by -154.89 points or by -0.31 % and then NSE Nifty was at 14834.85 down by -38.95 points or by -0.26 %.

Sensex touched intraday high of 49906.91 and intraday low of 49461.01 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 14918.45 and intraday low of 14785.65

The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Rs. 636.95,+3.69%), Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (Rs. 2470.05,+2.51%), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 1052.65,+2.37%), Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (Rs. 4759.50,+1.48%), Titan Company Ltd. (Rs. 1591.75,+1.14%), among others.

The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were Bajaj Finance Ltd. (Rs. 4873.20,-3.12%), UltraTech Cement Ltd. (Rs. 6826.05,-2.16%), NTPC Ltd. (Rs. 102.90,-1.95%), Axis Bank Ltd. (Rs. 668.45,-1.94%), ICICI Bank Ltd. (Rs. 566.45,-1.79%), among others.

Among the sectors, HCS index was at 22724.74 up by 514.51 points or by 2.32%. Vimta Labs Ltd. (Rs. 203.15,+12.36%), Cadila Healthcare Ltd. (Rs. 514.55,+9.32%), Albert David Ltd. (Rs. 438.15,+9.26%), Aster DM Healthcare Ltd. (Rs. 148.10,+8.90%), Morepen Laboratories Ltd. (Rs. 38.75,+8.39%),.

Metal index was at 16156.39 down by -181.61 points or by -1.11%. Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (Rs. 308.65,-3.20%), Vedanta Ltd. (Rs. 232.00,-2.34%), Tata Steel Ltd. (Rs. 899.20,-2.01%), Coal India Ltd. (Rs. 129.55,-1.60%), National Aluminium Company Ltd. (Rs. 59.40,-1.57%),.

The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 3377 , shares advanced were 1834 while 1340 shares declined and 203 were unchanged.