Markets fall on profit booking; Sensex closes at 32,309

Among others, ICICI Bank fell by 3.6 percent after its quarterly results failed to enthuse investors. Hero MotoCorp, Axis Bank and Hindustan Unilever also fell.

On a weekly basis, the Sensex climbed 280.99 points, or 0.87 percent, while the Nifty gained 99.25 points, or 1 percent.

The 50-share index had dropped below the 10,000 mark to hit a day's low of 9,944.50 as pharma stocks such as Dr Reddy's, Lupin and Sun Pharma fell up to 6 percent intra day.

The broader NSE Nifty fell by 6.05 points, or 0.06 percent, to close at 10,014.50 as 29 index constituents declined.

The 30-share index closed at 32,309.88, down by 73.42 points, or 0.23 percent.

The benchmark BSE Sensex on Friday fell by 73 points as investors booked profits in pharma, banking and auto stocks after disappointing financial results.

Shares of country's largest private sector lender ICICI Bank were down 1.71 percent to Rs 301.80 even as the company yesterday reported a marginal rise of 3.5 percent in consolidated net profit for the first quarter of the current fiscal.

Dr Reddy's remained biggest the loser among Sensex components by slumping 5.13 percent to Rs 2,487 after the company yesterday reported over 57 percent drop in net profit.

The laggards that pulled down the indices were Lupin, Hindustan Unilever, Sun Pharma, ONGC, TCS, Bharti Airtel, Reliance Industries, Bajaj Auto, Tata Steel and HDFC Bank.

Metal, healthcare, bank, realty, technology, auto, power and IT stocks were trading in the negative zone, down by up to 0.88 percent.

The rupee fell by 11 paise to 64.22 against the US dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange on month-end dollar demand from importers and banks.

Yesterday, the rupee had staged an incredible comeback after its three session listless trade and gained 26 paise to end at fresh two-and-a-half month high of 64.11 a dollar.

The Sensex touched a high of 32,381.36 points and a low of 32,193.63 points in the trade so far.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also trading 35.25 points or 0.35 percent lower at 9,985.30 points.

The BSE Sensex, which opened at 32,381.36 points, was trading at 32,258.82 points at 9.18 a.m. in the early session, lower 124.48 points or 0.38 percent from Thursday`s close at 32,383.30 points.

Markets opened in the red on Friday following global cues. The Sensex slumped almost 190 points to 32,193.63 and the NSE Nifty cracked below the 10,000-mark in early trade.