The index opened 50 points lower at 5,471 and displayed weak trends throughout the opening session as stocks failed to recover from their lows due to the sluggish trading.
Buying in select old and new economy stocks in early noon deals saw the index bounce back from its lows to touch an intra-day high of 5,552.
The markets soon drifted back into the red as fresh selling across-the-board dragged the index below the 5,500-mark to an intra-day low of 5,435.
The Sensex, on the back of buying in techs, ONGC, Hero Honda and other select old economy counters, erased the losses towards the fag-end, and ended with a small gain of four points at 5,525.
The Nifty, however, ended with losses at 1,749 - down 14 points.
ITC recovered from its intra-day low of Rs 1,045 to end 1.24% down (Rs 14) at Rs 1,086. While HLL was down 1.92% (Rs 3) at Rs 151, Reliance finished down a rupee at Rs 542.
SBI was down a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 572. While BHEL lost 1.16% (Rs 7) to Rs 573, MTNL shed a rupee to close at Rs 138. HPCL, however, closed up a per cent (Rs 5) at Rs 490.
Infosys, after a mixed outing, ended with a gain of Rs 23 at Rs 4,949. While Wipro shot up 3% (Rs 42) to Rs 1,462, Satyam gained 2.49% (Rs 7) to Rs 298.
ONGC attracted considerable buying today, and advanced 5.84% (Rs 46) to Rs 834. While Hindalco closed 1.17% higher (Rs 15) at Rs 1,297, ICICI Bank moved up 2% (Rs 6) to Rs 284. Tisco and Tata Power ended with modest gains at Rs 392 and Rs 366, respectively.
L&T added 1.34% (Rs 7) at Rs 560. ACC closed up a tad at Rs 246. Grasim, however, declined 2.59% (Rs 28) to Rs 1,042. Gujarat Ambuja finished down a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 283.
Cipla recovered from its intra-day lows to end with a marginal gain of Rs 3 at Rs 1,198. Ranbaxy, too, ended marginally higher at Rs 958. Dr. Reddy's, however, dipped 2.11% (Rs 22) to Rs 997.
Bajaj witnessed heavy selling pressure in its counter, and dropped 3.53% (Rs 30) to Rs 820. Tata Motors also ended at lower levels with a loss of 1.50% (Rs 7) at Rs 461. Hero Honda, however, bucked the downtrend to end with a huge gain of 6.58% (Rs 3) at Rs 480.
Bharti Tele (down Rs 6 or 4% to Rs 145) and HDFC Bank (down Rs 6 or 1.67% to Rs 355) ended in the red.
