Not all was gloomy though. The mid-cap index ended marginally up at 6789 and the small-cap index addd nearly 1% at 8455.
Asian Star was the top gainer in the mid-cap space, strengthening by 17% at Rs 1120. Kansai Nerolac Paints, JM Financial and Corporation were the other significant movers.
In the small-cap space, Rollatainers gained 11% at Rs 298, with MSK Projects, BAG Films and Advanta India closely following suit. And the market breadth remained strong, with 1693 gainers as against 1089 losers.
Meanwhile, IL&FS Transportation Networks made a modest debut on the bourses.
The transportation company listed at a premium of 11% at Rs 287 on the Bombay Stock Exchange as against its issue price of Rs 258 a share. The stock finally ended around 7% higher at Rs 273.
HDFC Bank was the top loser among the Sensex stocks, weakening by 2.9% at Rs 1906. And a strong rupee continued to haunt the IT space; Infosys shed 2.6% a Rs 2643, while Wipro ended 1.9% down at Rs 702 and TCS lost 1.3% at Rs 800.
Index heavyweight Reliance Industries reversed its early gains to end half a per cent down at Rs 1087.
And Hero Honda Motors lost 1.9% at Rs 1966 despite announcing a liberal special dividend of Rs 80 per share to commemorate its silver jubilee.
On the gainer's side, DLF ended 3.2% at Rs 308. Tata Motors gained 2.2% at Rs 756 and Sterlite strengthened by 1.1% at Rs 845.
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