The market breadth in BSE ended unhealthy with 1,475 shares declining and 649 shares advancing.
The Sensex fell by 24.20 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 19,460.57, its lowest close since December 31, 2012.
Realty, Bankex, Auto lead sectoral indices on BSE.
BSE market breadth was positive. Out of 2,972 stocks traded, 1,203 shares advanced while 986 shared declined in trades.
BSE Auto index has surged by almost 2%
Hindalco and BHEL among the top Sensex gainers
There are pending buy orders for 4.8 million shares on the NSE and BSE.
The overall breadth is positive as 873 stocks are advancing while 425 are declining.
The Sensex closed at 17,631 down 47 points and the 50-share Nifty slipped 16 points to close at 5,334.
Markets continue to trade on a strong note in the late morning deals on the back of positive global cues and buying visible in the banking and capital goods stocks ahead of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) policy review which is due on Tuesday.