In worldwide trade, the American dollar traded with solid strength against all major emerging currencies
Stellar rally in ITC shares along with strength in the Asian equities capped the downside.
The rupee on Wednesday snapped its two days of losses and edged up two paise to end at 59.27 against the dollar following late selling of the US currency by exporters.
Participants are eagerly waiting for the key macrodata -- IIP and CPI numbers due to be released later today.
Capital goods shares continued to trade firm in late noon despite weak market trend on the back of encouraging core sector growth in February.
The Nifty closed flat with a negative bias at 5,868 after touching an intra-day high of 5,890.
The Rupee is seen strengthening against the dollar.
Rate-sensitive sectors like banks, realty and auto witnessed heavy selling pressure ahead of the RBI Monetary policy which is scheduled on September 29.
Traders are closely watching the progress of the monsoon.
Gains were led by index heavyweights Reliance Industries and Infosys.
Indian rupee appreciated by 35 paise to end at two-week high of 63.03 against the greenback.
The 30-share Sensex ended down 90 points at 19,429 after hitting an intra-day low of 19,398 and the 50-share Nifty ended down 40 points at 5,881 after touching an intra-day low of 5,871.
The RBI fixed the reference rate for the dollar at 65.2525 and for the euro at 72.1954.
RIL, HDFC twins, M&M, Infosys among the top losers for the day.
The 30-share Sensex ended flat at 21,833 and 50-share Nifty gained 7 points at 6,524.
Investors indulged in buying beaten down blue chips at lower and attractive levels.
Indices reversed all its losses during late trades.
In the broader markets, BSE Midcap index slipped 0.3% whereas the BSE Smallcap index inched up by 0.2%
Markets ended higher, amid firm global cues, and are on track for third straight day of gains.
The local currency opened at 62.20 a dollar from the previous close of 61.93 and immediately touched a low of 62.29 at the interbank foreign exchange market.
Investors will keenly watch out for the Futures & Options expiry for July on Thursday
BSE Midcap index outperformed the benchmark indices to end with 0.4% gains.
Month end dollar demand from oil importers has forced rupee to trade weak.
Dealers said the country's trade balance numbers were inline with expectations as India's exports rose an annual 0.8 per cent in January and imports for the month rose 6 per cent, leaving a trade deficit of $20 billion.
Markets have suddenly extended losses and is at the day's low. The Sensex has slipped 175 points at 17,346. Nifty is down 50 points at 5,267.
After making a strong opening, shares of Infosys further jumped 9 per cent to Rs 2,624.90 on the BSE.
After a volatile session, Sensex closed the day 563 points lower
On the NSE, the stock tanked 10.19 per cent to a low of Rs 2,219.
Russia's central bank early on Tuesday raised interest rates to 17 per cent to counter the 50 per cent rouble fall in six months.
The exchange moved through many ups and downs through the years.
'Macro headwinds are rising for Indian equities in the form of rising commodity prices, especially oil, depreciating rupee, fiscal challenges, election-related uncertainty and upside risks to inflation'
Investor wealth slumped by Rs 1.55 lakh crore on Thursday today, dragged down by massive selling in the stock markets where nearly seven out of ten shares closed lower.
The Sensex had bounced back with gains of 94 points or 0.3%
Markets across the globe gained after China Securities Regulator removed its four-day-old circuit-breaker system.
The 30-share Sensex ended in the red.
Markets ended lower for the third straight day on Tuesday weighed down by profit taking in rate sensitives with bank shares leading the decline after hopes of rate cut by the central bank faded.
The law firm had specifically named the bank's chief executive and managing director of over 25 years, Aditya Puri, his designated successor Sashidhar Jagdishan and company secretary Santosh Haldankar as defendants.
The BSE benchmark Sensex surged about 241 points to end at 35,165.48 and the NSE Nifty gained 84 points to close at 10,688.65.
Markets ended lower on Tuesday, snapping a two-day winning streak, as investors turned cautious and booked profit in financials.