After opening with a positive gap of 73 points at 15,577, the index could barely a tad higher to touch a high of 15,580. Profit-taking at higher levels saw the index soon slip into the negative zone.
Significant weakness in banking, metal and technology stocks saw the index slide to a low of 15,125 - down 455 points from the day's high. The Sensex recouped some losses but eventually ended (provisional) with a loss of 281 points at 15,223.
The NSE Nifty shed 65 points to settle at 4,555.