Sensex falls 161 pts despite GDP surprise

The Sensex on Friday plunged nearly 161 points dragged down by power, metal and oil & gas stocks as better-than-expected 5.5 per cent growth in first quarter dashed hopes of interest rate cut, amid a weak global trend.

After a slow start, the BSE benchmark index dropped to 17,337.61 soon after the gross domestic product number was announced. It attempted to stage a comeback and went up to 17557.62 but lost the momentum to close at 17,380.75, down 160.89 points or 0.92 per cent over Thursday's closing value.

Poor showing by the manufacturing sector pulled down the GDP growth to 5.5 per cent in the April-June quarter, the decade's worst Q1 performance, but was a higher than the 5.3 per cent estimate put out by most economists.

Sustained selling in RIL, ITC, TCS and ICICI Bank weighed on the 30-share index where Hindalco, CIL and Bhel were among the worst performers losing over 2 per cent each.

Brokers said the better-than-expected growth might hamper government efforts to revive the economy and force the RBI to ease lending rates.

Out of the 13 BSE sectoral indices, 12 ended lower with power, metal, oil & gas, realty and auto losing over one per cent each.

The 50-share National Stock Exchange index Nifty lost 56.55 points, or 1.06 per cent to close at 5,258.50.