For the fourth straight day, a benchmark index of Indian stock markets closed in the red Friday on profit-taking in banking, consumer durables and oil and gas stocks.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,785.20 points, closed at 20,666.15 points (provisional), down 156.62 points or 0.75 percent from the previous day's close at 20,822.77 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 20,821.01 points and a low of 20,600.90 intra-day.
The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also declined. It ended at 6,140.75 points, down 46.50 points or 0.75 percent.
Heavy selling pressure was observed in bank, consumer durables and oil and gas stocks.
The S&P BSE bank index was down 160.34 points, followed by consumer durables index which was lower by 121.54 points and oil and gas index, which lost 103.82 points.