The Sensex finished 10 points lower at 5,833. The Nifty was down four points at 1,833.
Infosys pared gains towards the close, but still finished with a smart gain of 1.4% (Rs 27) at Rs 1,988. Satyam dropped Rs 3 to Rs 388, and Wipro declined Rs 4 to Rs 671.
ITC slipped 1.5% (Rs 17) to Rs 1,118. Reliance shed 1.2% (Rs 6) to Rs 537. HLL ended a tad higher at Rs 129.
HPCL spurted 2.6% (Rs 8) to Rs 319. ONGC, however, dropped Rs 4 to Rs 795.
SBI declined 1.4% (Rs 7) to Rs 481, and HDFC Bank was down 1.3% (Rs 5) to Rs 423. However, ICICI Bank, was up Rs 2 at Rs 309.
Hindalco surged 2.3% (Rs 28) to Rs 1,270. Tisco slipped a per cent (Rs 3) to Rs 296.
Dr.Reddy's gained 1.6% (Rs 13) at Rs 781, and Ranbaxy added a per cent (Rs 10) to Rs 1,138. Cipla was flat at Rs 277.
Bhel shed a per cent (Rs 7) to Rs 633. Larsen & Toubro was down Rs 7 at Rs 824.
Bajaj Auto skidded 1.4% (Rs 14) to Rs 968, and Tata Motors was down Rs 3 to Rs 417. Hero Honda was up Rs 4 at Rs 433, and Maruti added Rs 3 to Rs 381.
Cement stocks came under heavy selling pressure towards the close. Grasim slumped 1.8% (Rs 20) to Rs 1,125. ACC declined 1.3% (Rs 4) to Rs 261, and Gujarat Ambuja was down a rupee to Rs 350.
Reliance Energy added 1.6% (Rs 9) to Rs 645.