In a choppy session, the benchmark BSE Sensex today staged a smart recovery and covered up its initial losses to close just 26 points down at 26,192.98 as cautious investors chose to book profits after two sessions of gains amid muted global cues owing to growth concerns.
In early trade, the 30-share index broke below the crucial 26,000-mark by dropping nearly 250 points to hit a low of 25,972.54 as investors booked profits in recent gainers amid mixed Asian pointers.
Thanks to across-the-board buying during the mid-session trade, the Sensex reversed early losses to trade in the positive terrain and touched a high of 26,233.46, closing at 26,192.98, down 25.93 points, or 0.10 per cent -- retreating from its nearly three-week highs.
The gauge had gained 512.98 points in the previous two sessions on rate cut hopes after the US Fed decided to hold rates steady.
The 50-issue NSE Nifty fell 4.80 points, or 0.06 per cent, to 7,977.10. It shuttled between 7,908.35 and 7,987.90 during the session.
Brokers said market commenced lower as participants locked in gains in blue-chips that made sizeable gains in the past two sessions amid a weak trend overseas following weekend losses at US markets after the Fed's decision to keep interest rates unchanged sparked worries about global growth.
They said reports that foreign funds which had been major sellers on the domestic bourses made fresh purchases in Friday's trade helped stocks recoup much of their lost ground.
Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) net bought shares worth Rs 643.51 crore last Friday, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges.
Reliance Industries lost big, dropping 1.94 per cent, followed by M&M, ITC, Bharti Airtel and Dr Reddy's.
The largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki emerged as the top gainer by rising 2.64 per cent after reports said the company expected to soon get a crucial clearance from the Gujarat government to allow its parent Suzuki Motor Corp to own the upcoming plant in the state.
Gains in Hindalco, Axis Bank, SBI, GAIL and Tata Motors cushioned the fall somewhat.
Out of the 30-share Sensex, 17 turned lower.
Sectorally, the BSE FMCG index fell the most by plunging 0.76 per cent while oil & gas, consumer durables and metal too slumped.
Broader markets outperformed the Sensex, with the small-cap index gaining 1.21 per cent and mid-cap 0.44 per cent, as investors continued their buying activity.
On the global front, Asian markets closed mixed. Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.75 per cent lower, but Shanghai Composite stood out as it closed 1.89 per cent higher.
European indices were slightly higher in their early trade, rebounding from their worst drop in two weeks.
