The benchmark BSE Sensex today settled marginally lower by 11.96 points at 25,610.21, while the NSE Nifty inched up by 1.20 points as investors remained wary ahead of the release of factory output data.
Both the indices have recorded their first weekly gain in five weeks. Deficient monsoon worries and sustained capital outflows also weighed on market's performance. Meanwhile, the government is slated to release Industrial Production (IIP) numbers for July later in the day.
The 30-share Sensex after opening in the positive zone advanced to hit day's high of 25,875.96 in early trade. However, higher levels could not be sustained as it slipped into the red to hit a low of 25,530.41 points before settling 11.96 points or 0.05 per cent lower at 25,610.21.
On the other hand, the wider NSE Nifty managed to close 1.20 points or 0.02 per cent higher at 7,789.30 after shuttling between 7,864.85 and 7,759.90. Metal, capital goods, auto, oil&gas and power sector stocks succumbed to profit-booking.
On weekly basis, the BSE Sensex advanced by 408.31 points or 1.62 per cent, while the Nifty rose 134.25 points or 1.75 per cent, halting a four-week losing streak.
Brokers said a weak trend at other Asian markets and a lower opening in European markets also influenced sentiment.
Japan's Nikkei fell 0.19 per cent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.27 per cent, while China's Shanghai Composite ended 0.07 per cent higher. Among Sensex stocks, Tata Steel was the top loser by falling 3.02 per cent, followed by Vedanta 2.56 per cent.
Other losers included GAIL, Tata Motors, BHEL, Coal India, L&T, Bharti Airtel, RIL, Hindalco, Lupin, M&M, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Hero MotoCorp, ITC and ICICI Bank.
Sector-wise, metal suffered the most by falling 1.53 per cent, followed by capital goods (0.52 pc), oil&gas (0.32 pc), auto (0.29 pc), power (0.10 pc) and PSU (0.05 pc). However, broader markets outperformed the Sensex with small-cap index rising 0.63 per cent and mid-cap gaining 0.17 per cent.
