The Sensex, after touching the day's high of 3,879 during the morning deals, fell sharply thereafter on sustained selling pressure across-the-board, and finished with a loss of 67 points at 3,766. The Nifty dropped 20 points to close at 1,184.
Reliance dropped 2% (Rs 8) to Rs 347, and HLL lost 3% (Rs 4) to Rs 163 contributed to the weakness of the Sensex. ITC, however, after touching the day's high of Rs 752, shed ground on profit-booking to finish with a marginal gain of Rs 2 at Rs 731.
SBI faltered under selling pressure, and finished 3% lower (Rs 13) at Rs 415. While MTNL dropped 3% to Rs 121, HPCL closed down a per cent (Rs 4) at Rs 323. BHEL, however, ended up a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 272.
Gujarat Ambuja down (5% or Rs 11) to Rs 223, ACC down (4% or Rs 9) to Rs 195, Grasim down (3% or Rs 17) to Rs 560 and L&T down (3% or Rs 10) to Rs 280 ended with steep losses.
Bajaj at Rs 638 (down 4% or Rs 29) and Telco at Rs 233 (down Rs 8 or 3%) buckled under relentless selling pressure.
Infosys slipped from higher levels, and finished with a marginal loss of Rs 8 at Rs 3,732. While Satyam slumped 3% (Rs 6) to Rs 205, HCL Tech also finished in the red with a loss of a per cent (Rs 2) at Rs 173.
Cipla traded firm through the session, and advanced 7% (Rs 53) to Rs 864. However, other pharma stocks finished in the losers list.