Sensex ends down 102pts at 19,596

The Sensex opened with a positive gap of 197 points at 19,895, and touched a high of 19,971 in early trades. The index, thereafter, pared gains and exhibited range-bound movement for most part of the trading day.

Fresh selling towards the end saw the index slip into red to a low of 19,590 - down 305 points from the day's high. The Sensex finally ended (provisional) with a loss of 102 points at 19,596.