Weakness in cement, PSUs and select tech, pharma and auto stocks saw the Sensex finally finish with a loss of nine points at 3,621. The Nifty also ended five points lower at 1,141.
Cement and PSU frontliners lost ground on selling pressure. Gujarat Ambuja (down 3% to Rs 6), Grasim (down Rs 4 to Rs 496) and ACC (down Rs 3 to Rs 167) slipped on profit-taking at higher levels. L&T, however, bucked the downtrend and moved up 3% (Rs 8) to Rs 270 on sustained buying interest.
HPCL lost around 2% (Rs 6) to Rs 348, and MTNL closed down a rupee to Rs 113 on selling pressure. SBI and BHEL dipped Rs 3 each to Rs 381 and Rs 280 on profit-taking.
Pharma stocks displayed mixed trends. Cipla, which gained 2% yesterday, slipped on profit-booking to close with a loss of 3% (Rs 23) to Rs 805. Glaxo was down a rupee at Rs 372. Dr. Reddy's, however, traded in a narrow range and added Rs 8 to Rs 1,145. Ranbaxy, too, ended marginally higher at Rs 831.
Heavyweights ended with marginal gains. Reliance and HLL were up a rupee each at Rs 326 and Rs 170, respectively. ITC, however, dropped a per cent (Rs 6) to Rs 769.
Tech stocks were divergent today. Satyam came under profit-taking and lost 2% (Rs 5) to Rs 187. HCL Tech, after trading in positive zone for better part of the trading session, finished marginally lower at Rs 155. Infosys, however, remained steady throughout the trading session and gained Rs 14 to Rs 3,256.
ICICI Bank gained ground on buying support to close with a gain of Rs 2 to Rs 150. Tisco and Zee, however, ended in the losers list at Rs 172 (down Rs 3) and Rs 99, respectively.