Sensex (BSE sensitive index) opened moderately down at 4692.41 and later moved downwards to the day's low of 4632.37 before closing at 4639.43 with a net loss of 65.56 points compared to the last Friday's close of 4704.99. The BSE-100 index edged up marginally by 2.88 points to 2242.03 from previous close of 2239.15. Brokers said the sentiment was affected mainly due to the absence of fresh support.

However, low-priced infotech stocks from both specified as well as B1 and B2 groups were in keen demand from punters while FIIs sold high-priced software and other counters. Infosys Tech bore the brunt and lost by Rs 380.25 to Rs 9234.75 following the company's decisionto sub-divide its shares to the face value of Rs five each, which was below market expections. Since The market discounted a sharp fall in net outstandings that stood at Rs 2222.68 crore at the beginning of trading and was reportedly driven in the negative territory partly due to high badla rates of about 22 to 23 per cent per annum at the turn of the settlement.

FIIs have slowed down their purchases, speculators pressed heavy sales to book profits in heavy weighted stocks at the prevailing high levels. The selling was more pronounced on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) which has the last day of the current settlement on Tuesday.

The volume of business was sharply up at Rs 3364.78 crore compared to last Friday's turnover of Rs 3068.10 crore. Zee Telefilms spurted by Rs 468.55 to Rs 6325.55, Pentafour Software by Rs 59.50 to Rs 803.60, Silverline by Rs 40.05 to Rs 540.85, GACL by Rs 11.85 to Rs 572.90, Novartis by Rs 28.35 to Rs 1185.95 and MTNL by Rs 4.65 to Rs 189.65.