Markets end down 0.6%, RIL dips 1%

Benchmark share indices ended lower amid a volatile trading session Tuesday tracking weakness in Asia with index heavyweight Reliance Industries and Tata Motors leading the decline.

The 30-share Sensex provisionally ended at  15,883 down 88 points or 0.6% and the 50-share Nifty ended at 4,751 down 28 points or  0.6%.

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(Updated at 14:37hrs)

Markets continued to weaken in late-noon trades with the Sensex dropping 166 points to a low of 15,804. The Nifty is down 47 points at 4,731.

Meanwhile in Asia, the Nikkei fell below its 25-day average and ended 0.5% lower at 8,440. With many overseas investors on year-end holidays, market participants said it had been difficult to buy risk assets though the re-opening of stock trading in the United States later in the day could provide more direction.

Markets are likely to remain volatile for the next few days as traders roll over positions in the derivatives segment on Thursday. Foreign funds bought shares worth Rs 113.43 crore on Monday as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.

All the sectoral indices were in red. Realty shares fell on profit booking after recent gains. BSE realty index dropped 2% to 1,420.

Metal, power and bankex also dropped 1.7% each in trades.

Infosys was the top dragger along with Reliance - accounting for a 38 points fall in the Sensex. Coal India shed 3.3% to Rs 296. DLF, NTPC, Tata Steel and Jaiprakash Assoiates were down around 3% each.

Meanwhile, Bajaj Auto advanced 1% at Rs 1,625. Tata Power and Mahindra & Mahindra were up marginally.

SBI shed 1.5% to Rs 1,640. The bank, along with a few others such as Kotak Mahindra Bank, announced a sharp hike in interest rates offered on non-resident external (NRE) deposits.

BSE market breadth was negative. Out of 2,662 stocks traded 1,456 shares have declined while 1,067 shares have advanced.