The Sensex, after completing 13 successive weeks of gains, suffered a loss of 437.63 points to 14,665.92 as metal, banking and realty stocks suffered hefty losses. The fall was the third-highest after those of January 7 and March 30.

In a similar fashion, the 50-share National Stock Exchange index Nifty dropped by 157.00 points to 4,429.90, breaking a psychological 4,600 level.

Only information technology stocks were in positive territory following a firming dollar, raising hopes of better revenue. Over 50 per cent of the country's software export revenue comes from the US markets.

Marketmen said the steep rise of 88 per cent in the market was overdone and attracted profit-selling by funds and retail investors.

They said the selling was more confined to sectors which had recorded handsome gains in recent times.

The major puller to the market were heavy-weight stocks like Sterlite Industries, Reliance Industries, Tata Steel, Reliance Communications, Reliance Infra, Jaiprakash Associates, ICICI Bank and State Bank of India. The realty sector index suffered the most, losing 10.54 per cent to 3,604.92, as Jaiprakash Associates and DLF Ltd dropped.

Jaiprakash declined 10.40 per cent, DLF 10.24 per cent, Unitech Ltd 13.80 per cent, Mahindra Life 13.61, Indiabulls Real Estate 10.06 per cent and HDIL 11.67 per cent.

The metal index was the second-worst performer, losing 6.51 per cent to 10,933.58.

The banking index fell 4.42 per cent to 7,841.76, consumer durables 4.41 per cent to 2,897.33, PSUs 4.32 per cent to 8,316.78, power 3.46 per cent to 2,904.46, capital goods 3.18 per cent to 12,511.43, auto 2.66 per cent to 4,802.85, FMCG 2.56 per cent to 2,162.85 and oil and gas 2.52 per cent to 10,063.55.