Markets reversed the positive trend as a dissapointing food inflation data and weak global indices took their toll.
The Sensex slipped off the 17,000 mark to touch a low of 16,888. The index recovered marginally but ended in red at 16,972 - down 28 points.
The Nifty ended down eight points at 5,080.
Stocks were under selling pressure as fears of an interest rate hike emerged following a rise in inflation. Food inflation rose to 17.87% and may lead to the RBI raising borrowing rates.
Asian markets fell ahead of key policy meeting in European Central Bank. The Hang Seng shed 1.4% to 20,576. Nikkei declined 1% to 10,146.
The BSE mid-cap and small-cap indices out-performed the broader markets and added around 0.8% each to 6,694 and 8,378, respectively.
The realty index was strong through the day and gained 2.5% to 3,400. The consumer durables and metal indices were also in green. However, the IT index dropped 1% to end at 5,223.
Reliance Communications gained 2% to Rs 164. DLF and Reliance Infrastructure added 2% each to Rs 304 and Rs 1,025, respectively.
Hindustan Unilever advanced 1.6% to Rs 242. Tata Steel and Sun Pharma were up 1.4% each at Rs 617 and Rs 1,581, respectively. Grasim added 1%.
However, Sensex heavy-weights declined. Reliance dropped 1% to Rs 1,013. Infosys dropped 1.4% to Rs 2,623. ICICI Bank was down 1% at Rs 898.
Maruti Suzuki and Jaiprakash Associates also ended in red - down around 1%. IT majors - Wipro and TCS slipped 0.7% each.
The BSE market breadth was marginally positive. Out of 2,937 stocks traded 1,692 advanced while 1,156 declined.
VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERS:
Tata Power topped the value chart on the BSE with a turnover of Rs 313.58 crore. It was followed by Tata Motors (Rs 140.44 crore), Sesa Goa (Rs 139.79 crore), Tata Steel (Rs 110.71 crore) and Suzlon Energy (Rs 87.58 crore).
Cals Refineries led the volume chart on the BSE with trades of 15.10 million shares on the BSE.It was followed by Suzlon Energy (11.46 million), Unitech (9.10 million), ARSS Infra (8.53 million) and IFCI (6.2 million).
