Sensex ends down 97pts at 14,411

The Sensex opened tad lower at 14,501 - down seven points - amid a sell-off in the Chinese markets following a hike in tax on securities transaction which saw the Shanghai Composite index tumble 7% in early trades.

However, aggressive buying in capital goods stocks like BHEL and Larsen & Toubro saw the index rebound into the positive zone and rally to a high of 14,576. The index, however, could not hold gains for long.

Weakness, which, crept in from selling in FMCG and technology stocks spread to other sectors towards the end. The index tumbled to a low of 14,379 - down 197 points from the day's high. The Sensex finally ended with a loss of 97 points at 14,411.

The NSE Nifty touched a fresh all-time intra-day high of 4302 in opening trades. However, the index plunged to a low of 4241, before settling with a hefty loss of 44 points at 4250.

Elsewhere in Asia, China's Shanghai Composite index cracked 5.5% (239 points) to 4095. The Hang Seng shed 209 points to 20,260, and the Nikkei slipped 89 points to 17,583.