Sensex hit by profit-taking; United Spirits hits record
Mumbai: BSE Sensex is headed for a second consecutive session of falls as investors continue to take profits after record highs hit on Thursday. Blue chips across a range of sectors led the way down, with Housing Development Finance Corp Ltd falling 3.2 per cent, Hindalco Industries Ltd losing 2.5 per cent and Tata Motors Ltd is down 1.6 per cent.
However, Infosys gains 3.4 per cent after its January-March earnings beat estimates, although India's second largest software services exporter forecast sales would grow slightly below estimates this fiscal year. Other IT outsourcing companies such as Tata Consultancy Services Ltd and Wipro Ltd gained. The IT index of the BSE gained 2.27 per cent.
Shares in United Spirits Ltd gained as much as 15 per cent to a record high of 2,940.80 rupees after Diageo Plc announced a tender offer to acquire up to an additional 26 per cent stake in the Indian firm at 3,030 rupees a share. The offer will be launched in June.