The Sensex gained 15 points to open at 5,878 and added few more points to touch an intra-day high of 5,881 in early deals. By mid-morning trades, the markets steadily began to decline, and the index slipped into the red to touch an intra-day low of 5,852 due to selling in select stocks.

After displaying a range-bound trend till the closing hours, the Sensex finally ended down a point at 5,862. The Nifty, too, ended a point lower at 1,868.

ITC dipped 1.10% (Rs 12) to Rs 1,075. While Reliance closed down a rupee at Rs 565, HLL, however, closed up a tad at Rs 152.

Infosys closed marginally lower at Rs 5,392. While Wipro lost Rs 7 to Rs 1,617, Satyam was down a rupee at Rs 333

Grasim declined 1.16% (Rs 14) to Rs 1,173. While Gujarat Ambuja ended down a per cent (Rs 3) at Rs 327, ACC was down Rs 2 at Rs 276. L&T also ended with a per cent loss (Rs 4) at Rs 602.

SBI (up Rs 3 to Rs 642) and HPCL (up a rupee to Rs 512) ended with steady gains. BHEL, however, ended with a loss of Rs 4 at Rs 640. 

Bajaj added 1.67% (Rs 16) to Rs 946. Tata Motors and Hero Honda closed down a per cent each at Rs 506 and Rs 495, respectively.

Cipla moved up 1.56% (Rs 19) to Rs 1,242. Dr. Reddy's clocked a per cent gain (Rs 10) to close at Rs 917. Ranbaxy, however, was down a per cent (Rs 9) at Rs 1,027.

Tata Power jumped 2.25% (Rs 9) to Rs 414. While Bharti notched up 2.69% gains (Rs 5) to Rs 173, ICICI Bank added 1.71% (Rs 5) to Rs 292. Reliance Energy was up Rs 3 at Rs 779.

Hindalco (down Rs 6 to Rs 1,291) and ONGC (down Rs 4 to Rs 865) finished subdued.