The Sensex resumed lower at 20,839.45 and dropped further to 20,789.44 before quoting at 20,798.44 at 1030hrs, showing a loss of 56.48 points, or 0.27 per cent, from its last close.
The NSE 50-share Nifty also moved down by 10.50 points or 0.17 per cent to 6,191.35 at 1030hrs.
Major losers were ICICI Bank (1.65 pct), Larsen (1.26 pct), Sun Pharma (0.89 pct), HUL (0.69 pct), ITC (0.63 pct) and Bajaj Auto (0.60 pct).
Key benchmark indices in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and South Korea were down 0.15 pct to 2.05 pct, while that of China and Taiwan rose 0.35 pct to 1.27 pct.
US stocks declined for a third day yesterday as investors assessed reports on car and retail sales before US jobs data later this week that may offer clues on when the Federal Reserve will reduce stimulus.