A late bout of buying in SBI and other select stocks saw the Sensex recover from the day's low, and finally finish with a loss of 34 points at 3,686. The Nifty, too, lost 12 points to close at 1,160.

Techs bore the maximum brunt on sustained selling pressure. Infosys languished in negative territory and dropped 2% (Rs 77) to Rs 3,404. Satyam and HCL Tech lost ground in the early morning deals and shed 5% each to Rs 183 (down Rs 10) and Rs 158 (down Rs 9), respectively.

Heavyweights and PSUs, too, displayed negative trends. ITC came under heavy selling pressure and slumped 2% (Rs 19) to Rs 736. Reliance and HLL, too, were down Rs 2 each to Rs 337 and Rs 166, respectively.

HPCL faltered under selling pressuer to finish with a loss of 2% (Rs 7) at Rs 351. BHEL traded weak throughout the session and lost Rs 3 to Rs 283. MTNL, too, was down a rupee at Rs 113. SBI, however, gathered momentum towards the fag-end and ended with a gain of 2% (Rs 7) at Rs 410.

Other auto, pharma and cement stocks, too, were mostly disappointing.