Mirroring weak trend in the global markets the Sensex opened with a negative gap of 122 points at 14,064. The index soon dropped to a low of 14,011.

Renewed buying interest in technology and select heavyweights saw the index recover as the day progressed. Lower than expected inflation further boosted sentiment, as a result of which, the index rebounded into the positive zone. The index touched a high of 14,229 -- up 218 points from the day's low.

However, a fresh round of selling in late trades forced the index tumble back in red. The Sensex finally settled with a loss of 117 points at 14,069.

The BSE Auto index slipped 2.3% to 4701. The FMCG and Metal indices dropped 1.8% each to 1779 and 10,243, respectively.

The market breadth was negative - out of 2,495 stocks traded, 1,463 declined, 958 advanced and 74 were unchanged on Friday.

Tech Bucks The Trend

Tata Steel [Get Quote] plunged nearly 5% to Rs 586. ACC slumped 4.5% to Rs 769.

HDFC [Get Quote] and Tata Motors [Get Quote] tumbled over 3.5% each to Rs 1,754 and Rs 654, respectively.

Maruti [Get Quote] and ITC slipped around 3% each to Rs 737 and Rs 151, respectively.

Ranbaxy [Get Quote] shed 2.5% to Rs 369. Hero Honda and Dr.Reddy's dropped 2.3% each to Rs 681 and Rs 632, respectively.

BHEL, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Auto [Get Quote], Reliance Energy [Get Quote], NTPC and HLL [Get Quote] were down 1-2% each.

Hindalco [Get Quote] and Satyam [Get Quote] surged 3% each to Rs 158 and Rs 495, respectively.

TCS [Get Quote] and ONGC [Get Quote] spurted over 1% each to Rs 1,221 and Rs 548, respectively.

Most Active Counters

Reliance topped the value chart with a turnover of Rs 187.70 crore followed by Nitin Fire (Rs 148.40 crore), Infosys [Get Quote] (Rs 113.80 crore), SBI [Get Quote] (Rs 112.90 crore) and Satyam (Rs 106.90 crore).

IFCI led the volume chart with trades of around 1.20 crore shares followed by Reliance Natural [Get Quote] (79.35 lakh), G V Films [Get Quote] (69.40 lakh), Tata Teleservices [Get Quote] (56.40 lakh) and Rana Sugars [Get Quote] (54.15 lakh).