In a range-bound trade, bourses struggled to keep the winning pace ahead of December's derivatives expiry, as profit booking led the CNX Nifty to loss a modest 16 points.
Investor wariness marked today's choppy trade momentum despite positive global cues in the absence of definite domestic triggers as well as profit taking ahead of Thursday's futures and options expiry.
However, small cap and mid-cap stocks outperformed other sectoral indices as selling was mainly seen in banking, energy and metals.
The 50-share Nifty hovered between a high of 6,301.50 and a low of 6,262, before closing at 6,268.40, at a loss of 16.10 points, or 0.26 per cent, over the last close.
The market resumed higher amid firm Asian cues, but later yielded to bouts of volatility and hovered between positive and negative zones during morning trades. It further succumbed to selling pressure during the mid-session to end in the red.
Major losers were Tata Power, SSLT, Wipro, Bank of Baroda, IndusInd Bank, Sun Pharma, Hero MotoCorp, HDFC, Cipla and Hindalco, while Ranbaxy, BHEL, Bajaj Auto, Ambuja Cement, PNB, Ultracemco and Dr Reddy's ended with gains.
Turnover in the cash segment dropped to Rs 9,481.02 crore from Rs 11,285.95 crore previously. A total of 6,217.56 lakh shares changed hands in 53,31,584 trades, while market capitalisation stood at Rs 68,04,155 crore.
