"The shift is gradually happening more on account of favourable risk-reward for stocks in these sectors and the shift would be more pronounced as investors roll over their targets to 2017," the head of research at a foreign brokerage said.
Silver, platinum and palladium all declined.
Auto and index heavyweights Reliance Industries and ITC were the top losers in early trades.
Forex dealers said besides selling of the American currency by exporters and banks, gains in other Asian currencies against the dollar and a higher opening in the domestic stock market also supported the rupee.
The rupee had lost 26 paise to close at 60.16 against the dollar yesterday on fresh dollar demand from banks and importers in view of the US currency gaining overseas and weakness in local equities.
Benchmark share indices ended flat amid lack of investor participation even as gains in IT majors ahead of their second quarter earnings helped capped downside.
Zuckerberg is kicking off a tour of Europe on Monday.
Telecom major Reliance Communications plans to monetise its real estate assets as it looks to pare debt.
The latest trigger has been Future group's buyout talk with the retail unit of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's family-owned Heritage Foods
Amneal Pharmaceuticals is set to pip Sun Pharma as the fifth largest generics maker in the US, reports Sohini Das.
Asset sales have helped ease investors' worry but debt remains at alarming levels
The new obsession on cost control is powered by the company's 'GEAR' (Generate idea, evaluate, action and realise the idea) programme.
Dollar's strength and falling crude oil prices force downward revision of 2015 growth forecast.
The rules make India's health warnings on tobacco products the world's most stringent, along with Thailand
Risk sentiment is likely to be favourable if oil prices stay benign, global growth sentiment remains robust and the dollar index does not break out, says B Prasanna.
ITC, Sun Pharma, Cipla and Tata Steel were top gainers on BSE Sensex
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, in the Budget for 2015-16, is likely to target around Rs 43,000 crore (Rs 430 billion) from divestment proceeds, almost the same level that the government expects to realise from stake sale in PSUs this fiscal.
'The rate cut could have been higher in the current economic conditions which would have had a stronger impact on business sentiment and spurred investment in a big way.'
The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market turned negative from positive
While the BSE's asking valuation is reasonable, compared to peers, there are some factors that long-term investors need to consider before investing.
About 1,556 shares have advanced, 1,211 shares declined, and 182 shares are unchanged.
Midcap stocks continued to remain on buyers' radar with BSE Midcap index up 0.1%.
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Some analysts believe that markets are expected to remain unclear and would have to wait until tomorrow's US non-farm payrolls data.
Profit booking in realty, oil and gas, capital goods, power and metal stocks pulled the index down to the day's low of 25,347.33 points.
Arora will resign less than two years since he joined the Japanese Internet conglomerate
Lower interest rates needed to boost manufacturing, officials say.
A majority of economists predicted RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan would leave policy rates unchanged on Tuesday and expected a dovish commentary, as crude oil prices and inflation cool off.
We can learn much from China with regards to making civil service recruitment more efficient, says former diplomat Kishan S Rana.
Dollar's strength against other currencies overseas capped the rupee's gain
He will become executive chairman and continue to be chairman
Gains in financial shares capped further downslide.
The repo rate, at which RBI lends to the banking system, will be at 7.5%
The broader NSE index has fallen about 0.9% as investors wait for corporate results
