After opening with a positive gap of 19 points at 14,520, the Sensex immediately dipped into negative zone on the back of negative cues from the global markets.
Persistent weakness in stocks like Hindalco, ACC and Reliance Communications saw the index languish in negative zone for the rest of the trading day.
Though the index attempted a recovery in mid-noon trades, the Sensex tumbled to a low of 14,407 before ending with a loss of 70 points at 14,431.
The market breadth was marginally negative - out of 2,647 stocks traded, 1,338 declined, 1,245 advanced and 64 were unchanged today.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Tata Motors tumbled 2.4% to Rs 668. NTPC, Reliance Energy, Reliance Communications and ACC dropped 2% each to Rs 150, Rs 578, Rs 515 and Rs 830, respectively.
ONGC and Ranbaxy slipped around 1.5% each to Rs 921 and Rs 343, respectively. Bharti Airtel shed 1.3% to Rs 839.
HDFC Bank, Tata Steel and HDFC declined over 1% each to Rs 1,091, Rs 596 and Rs 1,865, respectively.
Satyam surged 2.5% to Rs 468. Hero Honda and TCS advanced 1% each to Rs 677 and Rs 1,133, respectively.
Grasim and Infosys were the other notable gainers at Rs 2,515 and Rs 1,936, respectively.
VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERS
GMR Infrastructure topped the value chart with a turnover of Rs 297 crore followed by India Infoline (Rs 139 crore), debutant Nelcast (Rs 131.80 crore), Suzlon (Rs 124.50 crore) and Entertainment Network (Rs 116.40 crore).
IFCI led the volume chart with trades of around 1.80 crore shares followed by IKF Technologies (82.50 lakh), Reliance Petro (79.40 lakh), G V Films (62.20 lakh) and Nelcast (61 lakh).
The NSE Nifty ended 22 points down at 4,264.
