The Sensex dropped 43 points to close at 5,672. The Nifty declined 13 points to 1,787.

Infosys slipped over 2% (Rs 42) to Rs 1,906. Satyam tumbled 2.8% (Rs 11) to Rs 374. Wipro, however, recovered most of its losses and finished a rupee lower at Rs 658.

Reliance dropped 1.9% (Rs 10) to Rs 529. ITC was up a rupee at Rs 1,088, and HLL unchanged at Rs 125.

HPCL declined 1.6% (Rs 5) to Rs 308.

ICICI Bank advanced 1.4% (Rs 4) to Rs 299. However, HDFC Bank and SBI finished marginally lower at Rs 414 and Rs 443, respectively.

Hindalco plunged 3.3% (Rs 40) to Rs 1,187. Tisco dropped 2.4% (Rs 7) to Rs 288.

Larsen & Toubro surged 2.5% (Rs 20) to Rs 829. Bhel declined 1.6% (Rs 10) to Rs 625.

Cipla and Ranbaxy have gained 1.4% each at Rs 280 and Rs 1,099, respectively. Dr.Reddy's was down Rs 5 at Rs 752.

Maruti rallied 2.7% (Rs 10) to Rs 375. Bajaj Auto gained Rs 8 at Rs 964. While Hero Honda slipped 1.3% (Rs 6) to Rs 423, Tata Motors lost a rupee at Rs 417.

Grasim slumped 2.7% (Rs 30) to Rs 1,084. ACC shed 1.9% (Rs 5) to Rs 256, and Gujarat Ambuja ended 1.6% (Rs 5) lower at Rs 342.

Bharti Tele slipped 1.3% (Rs 2) to Rs 157.