<h1>Markets slip after profit-taking despite regulator clearing major business group of alleged market manipulation; blue-chips mixed</h1> Equity benchmarks slipped in early trade after a three-day rally amid profit-taking in major blue-chips, with key indices down and several large-cap stocks among the biggest decliners while others rose. A markets regulator recently cleared a prominent business group and its principal of alleged market manipulation by a US short-seller, finding intra-group fund transfers did not breach applicable regulations, which boosted several group stocks. Regional markets showed mixed signals, crude eased slightly, and foreign institutional investors were net buyers the prior session.