Sensex falls 93 points; derivatives expiry sparks record volumes in F&O segment

MUMBAI: The BSE Sensex fell as recent gainers such as Reliance Industries were hit by profit-booking, while IT stocks fell due to concerns about their outlooks on a day in which the expiry of derivatives led to record volumes in the futures and options (F&O) segment.

Turnover in F&O on Thursday reached around 4.2 trillion Indian rupees, an all-time high, several traders said, as the number of contracts rolled over from the December contracts to the January series fell.

According to data culled from traders, the more actively traded National Stock Exchange saw around 62% of contracts rolled over, marking a decrease from around 72% carried over in November.

The reduced rollovers lead to higher volumes as investors settle the contracts. Traders said the higher number of trade settlements was likely intended to book profits in long contracts after strong gains in domestic equities this year.

"There seems to be the lot of unwinding of the long outstanding contract to start with new slate, resulting in the highest turnover on Thursday," said KK Mital, head of portfolio management at Globe Capital.

The BSE Sensex fell 0.48%, or 93.66 points, to end at 19,323.80. Nifty fell 0.6%, or 35.50 points, to end at 5,870.10, ending below the psychological level of 5,900 points.

Caution also prevailed with only three trading sessions left in 2012, as the US "fiscal cliff" negotiations continue, while the strong foreign buying that has helped sustain Indian stocks could peter out as investors close their books.

The BSE Sensex has gained around 25% this year, backed by about $24 billion in foreign buying across domestic equities. Although expected interest rate cuts in January could support shares, investors also remain wary about growth, especially after the country's prime minister on Thursday called a five-year plan for average growth of 8 percent "ambitious.

Among decliners on Thursday, Reliance Industries fell 1.3% hit by profit-taking after shares gained 4.4 percent so this month as of Wednesday, trumping a 0.2% fall in the Nifty.