Falling for the first time in three days, the benchmark Sensex slipped over 68 points on Tuesday in choppy trade as investors started unwinding their pending positions before the settlement in monthly equity derivatives.
However, smallcap and midcap stocks outshone bluechips.
The BSE Sensex, which had gained 392.41 in the past two days, started on a positive note, tracking overnight gains in U.S. markets, but fell by 68.32 points, or 0.32 per cent, to end at 21032.71 dragged down by HDFC Bank, HDFC and Sun Pharma.
Sesa Sterlite fell over two per cent after CBI registered a preliminary enquiry against Vedanta group chief Anil Agarwal in connection with alleged irregularities in Hindustan Zinc disinvestment.
The 50-share NSE Nifty slid 16.10 points, or 0.26 per cent, to end at 6248.40.
“The rally in the U.S. markets which are breaching 6-year high levels did not culminate fully into the Indian markets.
Markets are closed on Wednesday, on account of Christmas. Monthly derivatives expire on December 26. — PTI
