Benchmark Nifty reversed early gains to end below the 10,600-level today on profit-booking in most of the sectors led by metal and energy ahead of April derivatives expiry due tomorrow.
The NSE Nifty ended at 10,570.55, showing a fall 43.80 points, or 0.41 per cent, after shuttling between 10,612.60 and 10,536.45.
Overseas, European markets were trading lower as rising yields in the bond markets offset positive sentiment surrounding corporate earnings. Asian shares fell across the board, following an overnight drop in US stocks.
Back home, the sectoral chart displayed a gloomy picture. Apart from IT and Realty, which gained 1.15 per cent and 0.60 per cent respectively, all others ended in the red.
The top loser was PSU Bank, declining by 1.65 per cent, followed by Metal 1.36 per cent, Pharma 0.92 per cent, Nifty Bank 0.91 per cent, Private Bank 0.83 per cent, Finance Service 0.77 per cent, Media 0.63 per cent, Energy 0.41 per cent, FMCG 0.23 per cent and Auto 0.17 per cent.
Major index losers were Gail, HPCL, Vedanta, Hindalco and Tata Steel.
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Gainers included Bharti Airtel, TCS, M&M, HCL Tech and BPCL.
The market breadth, indicating its overall health, was in favour of losers. On the NSE, 1,252 stocks declined, 558 advanced and 71 remained unchanged.
Total securities that hit their price bands were 174.
Turnover in the cash segment rose to Rs 32,815.01 crore from Rs 31,982.11 crore yesterday.
A total of 14,480.91 lakh shares changed hands in 11,898,566 trades. The market capitalisation of listed firms on the NSE stood at Rs 1,48,92,015 crore.