Sensex touches 56,000 but ends in the red; bank stocks tumble

The BSE Sensex scaled the 56,000-mark for the first time on Wednesday but finished in the red following a late sell-off as investors pocketed gains in banking, finance and IT stocks.
 
Snapping its four-session record-setting spree, the the 30-share benchmark closed 162.78 points or 0.29 per cent lower at 55,629.49. It touched its all-time peak of 56,118.57 during the session.

Similarly, breaking its seven-day winning streak, the broader NSE Nifty declined 45.75 points or 0.28 per cent to 16,568.85. It touched a record intra-day peak of 16,701.85.
 
Kotak Bank was the top loser in the Sensex pack,