Trading began on a modest positive note following firm overseas sentiment as well as good buying in heavyweights. Most trading activities were seen in mid and small-cap counters due to their low valuations compared to index stocks.
Asian shares rebounded from overnight sell-off on optimism lifted by Chinese central bank action, though sentiment remained vulnerable ahead of Spanish austerity budget. European shares were trading mixed in early trade.
The key index faced volatility towards the end due to the expiry of September futures and options contracts today as traders rolled over their long positions to next series.
Oil & gas, technology, metal, auto and financial stocks remained under selling pressure. FMCG and infra scrips along with UB Group stocks were in limelight.
The 50-share Nifty fluctuated between a high of 5,693.70 and a low of 5,639.70 before ending at 5,649.50, a fall of 13.95 points, or 0.25 per cent, over the last close.
SAIL, Sesa Goa, Sterlite, Cairn, ONGC, Hero MotoCorp, BHEL, Reliance, Infosys and RInfra were the top percentage- wise Nifty losers. Gainers included Tata Power, L&T, HCL Tech, HUL, DLF, ACC, Bajaj Auto, Maruti, SBIN and Grasim.
The turnover in cash segment rose to Rs 18,960.07 crore from Rs 14,369.65 crore yesterday. Overall, 11,766.35 lakh shares changed hands in 72,89,237 trades. Total market capitalisation stood at Rs 63,60,784 crore.