Markets open slightly lower

The Indian markets have made a marginally lower beginning. By 9:45, the Sensex was down 10 points at 15,961 and the Nifty declined 4 points to 4,775.

On the global front, Asian shares are steady on Tuesday in thin volume as investors took to the sidelines before the US markets reopen later in the day from a long weekend and data which could offer clues over growth prospects in the world's largest economy. SGX Nifty is 20 pts down

Back home, BSE Bankex has plunged by 1%. SBI, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank have fallen by nearly 1% each.

However, BSE Capital Goods and Consumer Durable indices have surged by nearly 1% each.

In the Capital Goods space, L&T has surged by 1.47% at Rs 1,040.

Reliance Communications, Reliance Infrastructure, Reliance Capital, Reliance Power have gained 1.5-3.5%.

The BSE Mid-cap Index is up at 0.25% while the Small-cap index has gained 0.28%.

Amongst other shares, Bharati Shipyard has zoomed 4% as the company's board cleared debt revamp worth Rs 2,854 cr.

Jet Airways has lost 2% on reports that I-T Department sent two notices to the company's promoter Naresh Goyal on overseas accounts.

The overall breadth is positive as 753 stocks are advancing while 528 are declining.