Markets end lower amid volatility

The Indian markets opened weak, on the back of negative US and Asian markets. There were feeble attempts at a comeback, with the markets crossing over into the green in the first hour of trade and again around noon, only to retrace immediately thereafter.

The afternoon session was volatile, albeit in the red, as the indices unsuccessfully attempted to claw back above the dotted line.

The Sensex finally shut shop at 16,693, lower by 88 points. And the Nifty ended at 4,958, down 27 points. The market breadth, though, was positive. Out of 2,852 stocks traded, there were 1,635 advancing stocks and 1,134 declined.

Index Movers. . .

Sun Pharma zoomed 7% to Rs 1,310, Reliance gained 1.2% to Rs 2,129 and ITC gained 1% to Rs 235. ONGC, DLF and Maruti were the other major gainers.

. . .And Shares

ICICI Bank sunk 2.9% to Rs 835, Tata Steel dropped 2.75% to Rs 499 and Wipro declined 2.7% to Rs 563. Tata Motors, TCS and Tata Power also figured in the loser's list.

Image: The Bombay Stock Exchange