Sensex loses 174.42 points

Mumbai, Dec 18: A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets, dragged down by heavy selling in blue chip stocks like Reliance, Bharti Airtel and ICICI Bank, plunged on Friday to end 174 points lower than its previous close.

The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,855.91 points, fell sharply in the last 30 minutes of trade to 16,719.83 points, down 174.42 points or 1.03 percent from its previous close at 16,894.25 points. At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty also lost heavily to shut shop at 4,987.7 points, against the previous close at 5,041.75 points, a loss of 54.05 points or 1.07 per cent.

BJP leadership change its internal matter: Cong

BJP leadership change its internal matter: Cong

NEW DELHI, Dec 19: The Congress on Saturday described the change of guard in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as an internal matter of the party, while the Left said it “doesn’t mean there will be any changes in its policies”. The BJP, which suffered a setback in the Lok Sabha polls this year and the Assembly elections held in some States, has gone in for a generational change in its leadership, choosing younger leaders.

The main Opposition party on Friday appointed Sushma Swaraj as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, replacing LK Advani. The party also got a new president with its Maharashtra unit chief Nitin Gadkari taking over from Rajnath Singh on Saturday.