The BSE Sensex fell for the
second straight day on Thursday, down 67 points at 18,078.50, amid high volatility in view of settlements in derivative contracts and a weak trend in global markets.
Realty, metals, auto and capital goods faced selling.
The Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share barometer opened weak and touched 18,005.28. It climbed again to reach 18,249.53.
Sensex fell again towards the close of trade and ended the day at 18,078.50, down 66.75 points or 0.37 per cent. It had tumbled over 283 points or 1.54 per cent on Wednesday.
The NSE 50-issue index Nifty also declined, down 22.05 or 0.40 per cent to 5,483.30.
During the February F&O series, Sensex has risen 1,001.32 points or 5.86 per cent and Nifty - 325 points or 6.30 pc.
ICICI Bank, Bharti Airtel, L&T, Infosys, M&M, Sterlite, Hero MotoCorp and Maruti Suzuki pulled down the market. But, rise in RIL, HUL, BHEL and TCS cushioned the fall.
Brokers attributed high volatile activity to the last day of futures & options (F&O) segment.
Second-line stocks underperformed the Sensex for the second day in a row on profit-booking by retail participants.
"It was a choppy session for the markets where after the initial fall, buying interest was seen," said Milan Bhavishi, Head Research, Inventure Growth and Securities.
Besides F&O expiry, the fall could be attributed to overall profit booking after the significant rise we have seen in the last few weeks, he said.
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