Sensex ends down 199pts at 19,779

After opening with a positive gap of 125 points at 20,103, the Sensex touched a fresh all-time intra-day high of 20,238, before slipping into the negative zone in early early trades. The index, thereafter, exhibited significant volatility and rebounded into the positive zone while the Reserve Bank of India in its second quarterly review of the Credit Policy left key rates untouched and hiked Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) by 50 basis points.

However, a second round of selling in late noon trades saw the index tumble to a low of 19,695 - down 543 points from the peak. The Sensex finally ended (provisional) with a loss of 199 points at 19,779.