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 [Get Quote], ACC and Reliance Communications [Get Quote] 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 [Get Quote] tumbled 2.4% to Rs 668. NTPC, Reliance Energy [Get Quote], Reliance Communications and ACC dropped 2% each to Rs 150, Rs 578, Rs 515 and Rs 830, respectively.

ONGC [Get Quote] and Ranbaxy [Get Quote] slipped around 1.5% each to Rs 921 and Rs 343, respectively. Bharti Airtel [Get Quote] shed 1.3% to Rs 839.

HDFC Bank [Get Quote], Tata Steel [Get Quote] and HDFC declined over 1% each to Rs 1,091, Rs 596 and Rs 1,865, respectively.

Satyam [Get Quote] surged 2.5% to Rs 468. Hero Honda and TCS [Get Quote] advanced 1% each to Rs 677 and Rs 1,133, respectively.

Grasim [Get Quote] and Infosys [Get Quote] were the other notable gainers at Rs 2,515 and Rs 1,936, respectively.

VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERS

GMR Infrastructure [Get Quote] topped the value chart with a turnover of Rs 297 crore followed by India Infoline [Get Quote] (Rs 139 crore), debutant Nelcast (Rs 131.80 crore), Suzlon [Get Quote] (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 [Get Quote] (82.50 lakh), Reliance Petro (79.40 lakh), G V Films [Get Quote] (62.20 lakh) and Nelcast (61 lakh).

The NSE Nifty ended 22 points down at 4,264.