Sensex ends down 87pts at 19,698

Mirroring weakness in the global markets, the Sensex opened with a negative gap of 182 points at 19,603 and soon slipped to a low of 19,473 - down 312 points from the previous close.

Selective byuing, thereafter, saw the index rebound into the positive zone and touch a high of 19,838 - up 365 points from the day's low. However, the Sensex could not hold gains and eventually ended (provisional) with a loss of 87 points at 19,698.