Caution ahead of the key micro-economic data and selling in the financial sector dragged the major indices in the red during the pre-afternoon trade session on Friday.
Key macro-economic figures like forex reserves, Index of Industrial Production and manufacturing output are set to be released on Friday.
Realty stocks traded over 1 per cent lower after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said at Thursday’s GST Council Meeting that owing to diverse opinion, a decision on the much-expected rate reduction for under-construction homes will be taken at a later meeting.
The IT sector stocks also witnessed heavy selling pressure. Financials too traded in the red.
The BSE Sensex opened at 36,191.87 from its previous close at 36,106.50 on Thursday.
At 10.40 am, the Sensex traded at 36,040.61 lower by 65.89 points or 0.18 per cent.
The Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) opened at 10,834.75 after closing at 10,821.60 on Thursday.
The Nifty traded at 10,803.85 during the morning trade session, down 17.75 points or 0.16 per cent.
At 12 noon, the Sensex was trading at 35,942.43 points, down 164.07 points or 0.45 per cent. Nifty was trading at 10,769.15 points, down 52.45 points or 0.48 per cent.
Stock-wise, IT major Tata Consultancy Services traded 1.94 per cent lower after it announced its quarterly results on Thursday.