Sensex ends 124 points lower, Nifty below 9,500 a day before expiry

Reliance Industries, Asian Paints, HDFC and ONGC were top losers among Sensex stocks

Benchmark indices ended lower as investors stayed on edge ahead of the June F&O expiry. Extending losses for sixth straight session, Nifty slipped below its crucial 9,500 levels as weakness in lenders continued on provisioning worries.
 
Sentiment was also dampened as concerns of bloated valuations following a record-setting rally lowered risk appetite.
 
But the broader markets gained strength, with the BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices rising 0.2% each in an otherwise lower market.
 
Street was in line with the global sentiment as Asian shares slumped after Wall Street was knocked hard in the wake of a delay