The 30-scrip benchmark sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened higher at 15,940.1 points, ended trade on a low, moving down 93.25 points or 0.59 percent to 15,830.98 points.

The Nifty of the Indian National Stock Exchange (NSE), too, shut shop in the red at 4,680.5 points, down 0.66 percent.

Broader market indices closed mixed, with selling pressure pushing the BSE midcap index down 0.24 percent, while the BSE smallcap index ended 0.32 percent higher.

Telecom, healthcare, power and realty stocks were among the ones that came under selling pressure, while some consumer durables and auto stocks found favour among buyers.

The market breadth was positive with 1,480 stocks advancing, 1,242 declining and 72 remaining unchanged.

Among the gainers on the Sensex were Hindalco, up 4.39 percent at Rs.112.95; Hindustan Unilever, up 3.3 percent at Rs.294.05; Tata Motors, up 2.72 percent at Rs.443; and Reliance, up 1.3 percent at Rs.2,041.15.

Among the losers were Tata Power, down 4.42 percent at Rs.1,298.20; ONGC, down 2.98 percent at Rs.1,141.05; Reliance Infra, down 2.78 percent at Rs.1,188.80; and Bharti Airtel, down 2.57 percent at Rs.400.55.

In other Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed marginally in the green at 10,375.01 points, up 22.54 points from its last closing figure. However, this marginal addition was enough for the Japanese index to touch a 10-month closing high.

The Hang Seng, a primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, ended almost flat at 20,796.43 points, down a marginal 10.83 points.

European markets opened weak, a day after an impressive rally that saw key market indices touching levels not seen in as much as 10 months. The FTSE, a key British index was trading at 4,640.96 points, down 41.5points.

Its French peer, the CAC 40, was at 3,453.93 points, 23.87 points lower than its previous close.

The German index DAX too was in the red at 5,376.83, down 50.02 points.