The key equity barometers traded with modest losses in early trade. Nifty opened at 24538 and hit a high of 24539 in first half hour of trade. Nifty IT, Nifty Media and Nifty Private Bank shares advanced, while Nifty Metal and Nifty Chemicals shares fell.

At 09:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, inched up 273.74 points or 0.35% to 79,583.75. The Nifty 50 index moved lower by 51.45 points or 0.21% to 24,485.15.

The broader market underperformed the frontline indices. The BSE 150 MidCap Index fell 1.20% and the BSE 250 SmallCap Index declined 1.42%.

The market breadth was negative. On the BSE, 1231 shares rose and 2606 shares retreated. A total of 207 shares were unchanged.

Nifty IT index rose 1.39% to 33293. The index has jumped 16.03% in last one month and inched down 7.07% over last one year. Mphasis, inching higher 4.62%, led the gainers followed by TCS, gaining 1.83% and Infosys, adding 1.78%, respectively. Out of 10 index constituents, 9 are reporting gains today.

Nifty Media index moved higher by 0.15% to 1699. The index has added 8.70% in last one month and gained 13.56% over last one year. Tips Music, up 0.78%, led the gainers followed by Prime Focus, edging up 0.62% and PVR Inox, up 0.27%, respectively. Out of 10 index constituents, 4 are reporting gains today.

Nifty Metal index slipped 2.52%. The index has risen slightly by 0.78% in last one month and surged 22.50% over last one year. Natl. Aluminium, down 4.37%, led the losers followed by Hindalco Inds., easing 4.26% and S A I L, losing 3.36%, respectively. All 15 index constituents are reporting losses today.

In NIFTY500, Sai Life is the top gainer today, surging 8.37% to Rs 1729.75. The counter has posted strong gains of 72.88% in last one year. It recorded an average volume quantity of 29935.33 in last five sessions compared to 52914.61 over last one month.

Asian markets tumbled on Friday. China’s Shanghai composite is trading lower by 1.14%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng is lower by 1.17%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 is firmly lower by 5.89%.