Sensex falls for second straight day

The Sensex fell for a second straight session on Monday, to its lowest close in one and half weeks on risk aversion among investors due to tensions in Iraq and Ukraine, with domestic-oriented stocks such as Larsen & Toubro taking a hit.

Brent crude rose above $113 a barrel to a near nine-month high as Sunni insurgents advanced in Iraq, intensifying concerns over a potential disruption in oil exports, while Ukraine added to investors' concerns.

"Iraq and Ukraine will lead to at least a two-three per cent correction in the market ahead of interim budget in July. The trend, however, remains up and it's best to buy on declines," said U R Bhat, managing director, Dalton Capital Advisors, which advises foreign investors in India.

The benchmark BSE Sensex closed down 0.15 per cent, or 37.69 points, at 25,228.17. The broader Nifty fell 0.11 per cent, or 8.55 points, to 7,542.10. Both the indexes marked their lowest close since June 5.