The Sensex fell to a three-week low on Monday after disappointing quarterly earnings hit Bank of Baroda and IDFC, while investors continued to book profits in recent outperformers such as ONGC.
Broader losses were capped as Tata Motors and UltraTech Cement rebounded from Friday's steep falls when the two stocks were affected by a technology glitch at a domestic brokerage that resulted in "unintended transactions."
Sentiment has been dented ever since the Reserve Bank of India disappointed investors on January 29 with a more cautious than expected stance on future rate cuts. The Sensex has fallen 1.44 percent since then as of Monday's close.
Analysts expect trading to remain rangebound in the lead-up to the presentation of the 2013/14 federal budget on February 28. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has reiterated his commitment to controlling spending, especially at a time when India faces fiscal and current account deficits.
"There is a big gap between the previous trigger that is RBI rate cut and the next which is the budget, so there is some profit-booking in the interim," said G Chokkalingam, Executive Director & Chief Investment Officer, Centrum Wealth Management.
0.15 percent, or 30 points, to end at 19,751.19, marking its lowest close since January 11.
The Nifty fell 0.19 percent, or 11.65 points, to end at 5,987.25, closing below the psychologically important 6,000 level.
Bank of Baroda
Shares in IDFC Ltd
Jubilant Foodworks Ltd
Investors also booked profits in recent out-performers. Oil and Natural Gas Corp
State Bank of India
However, Tata Motors Ltd
Religare Capital Markets said on Saturday a technology glitch at the brokerage had caused "unintended transactions" in the shares of Tata and UltraTech.
Power Finance Corp Ltd
ICICI Bank Ltd