Sensex down 63 points in mid-session trade

Market benchmark BSE Sensex pared its early gains, shedding 63.44 points on selling in realty, banks, finance and power counters despite higher Asian cues.The 30-share index was quoted at 34,382.31 at 1204 hrs.

Key indices witnessed volatility ahead of Fed chair Jerome Powell's first congressional testimony later in the day, while investors focused on slew of key macro data including GDP data to be released tomorrow.Buying was witnessed in telecom, oil&gas, energy and FMCG counters.

The broader Nifty-50 index was also trading low at 10,554.70, down 27.90 points or 0.26 per cent. Major losers were SBI 1.57 per cent, Axis Bank 1.28 per cent,



ICICI Bank 1.13 per cent, Kotak Bank 1.03 per cent and Adani Ports 0.74 per cent.

Gainers included Dr Reddy 1.63 per cent, Bharti Airtel 1.54 per cent, HUL 1.31 per cent, Reliance 1.08 per cent and Yes Bank 1.03 per cent.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 1,119.51 crore on net basis, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought equities to the tune of Rs 1,409.45 crore yesterday, provisional data showed.

Most Asian markets were trading higher following gains on Wall Street overnight.

The US market rose in a broad-based rally led by technology shares.