The Sensex (BSE sensitive index) started smartly at 4110.25 which was also its day's high but dropped to a low of 4006 before closing at 4015.75, registering a loss of 63.70 points against 4079.45. The BSE-100 index also dipped by 31.13 points to 1728.67 from previous close of 1759.80

Brokers said that the sentiment was better earlier following good buying support from foreign funds as the Sensex crossed the 4100-mark. But profit-booking by operators at higher levels and squaring up of positions by bulls during the day prevented it from moving up any further. Heavy selling was witnessed at the fag end which dropped the Sensex.

FIIs made fresh purchases in some software scrips in the initial stages but operators were reportedly heavy sellers in thissector. Indian financial institutions and mutual funds were continuous sellers in key scrips like SBI, Larsen, Reliance, BPCL, HPCL, Madras Refinery, MTNL, Tata Tea, Bajaj Auto and some others.

Satyam Computer clocked the highest turnover of Rs 266.44 crore of the total volume of business of Rs 2120.80 crore. The market leader Satyam Computer fell sharply by Rs 51 to Rs 1502. Pentafour Software dropped by Rs 41 to Rs 1140, SBI by Rs 9.55 to Rs 264, Telco by Rs 7.60 to Rs 181.50, Reliance by Rs 8.65 to Rs 167.90, Tisco by Rs 8.80 to Rs 114.20 and Zee Telefilms by Rs 51.90 to Rs 1650. However, Hindustan Lever spurted by Rs 28.35 to Rs 2254.75, ITC by Rs 41 to Rs 1110, NIIT by Rs 53.25 to Rs 2035 and Glaxo by Rs 7 to Rs 732.