Sensex (BSE sensitive index) declined from the day's high of 3135.28 to the day's low of 3084.82 before closing at 3102.29, showing a net loss of 44.54 points over the previous close of 3146.83 points. The BSE-100 index also declined by 17.06 points to 1379.78 points from the previous close of 1396.84 points.

Despite the hike in sale and repurchase prices of US-64 scheme by the UTI, the sentiment failed to show any change. FIIs stayed away due to the fresh fall in the world markets. With the long-awaited US interest rate cut smaller than expected, Asia's top three stock markets like Tokyo, London and Hong Kong lost on profit-taking.

Operators preferred to square up their holdings on the last day of thecurrent account as a precautionary measure in view of long holidays beginning tomorrow. The volume of business was substantially down by Rs 273.61 crore to Rs 1436.54 crore. Satyam Computer remained the most active scrip with a turnover of Rs 277.69 crore.

On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), shares continued to fall on increased selling on the last day of the current settlement. The S&P CNX Nifty resumed weak at 908.30 and declined further to close at 904.95, showing a further fall of 3.45 points over the last close of 908.40.