Nifty ends below 8,550-level in volatile trade

The benchmark Nifty today ended below the key 8,550-level on fag-end selling, extending its string of losses to the fifth consecutive session.
Stock-specific action ahead of expiry of March derivative contracts on Thursday earlier in the session took the NSE index to a high of 8,627.75.
However, selling pressure mainly in Auto, IT and Banking counters dragged the Nifty down. Buying in Pharma, Energy and Infra segments helped cushion the fall to some extent.
In the broader market, shares of mid-cap and small-cap companies maintained the down-trend.
The broad-based 50-share Nifty opened lower at 8,537.05 and hovered between 8,627.75 and 8535.85 before finishing at 8,542.95, showing a loss of 7.95 points, or 0.09 per cent.

Stockwise, Tata Motors fell 3.48 per cent ahead of company's board meet tomorrow to consider rights issue.

Pharma shares attracted good buying interest.
Among major losers are Hindalco 2.24 per cent, Hindustan Unilever 1.68 per cent, SBI 1.53 per cent, Tata Steel 1.28 per cent and Infosys 0.99 per cent.
Notable gainers were Lupin 4.50 per cent, BPCL 3.55 per cent, Bharti Airtel 2.77 per cent, Ranbaxy 1.80 per cent, NTPC 1.70 per cent, and GAIL 1.64 per cent.
Turnover in the cash segment climbed to Rs 15,795.71 crore against Rs 13,648.22 crore yesterday. A total of 7,179.71 lakh shares changed hands in 64,09,751 trades. The market capitalisation at NSE stood at Rs 99,21,170 crore.

Elsewhere, Asian markets ended mixed amid a subdued outlook of Chinese manufacturing activity.
Meanwhile, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 417.41 crore yesterday as per provisional data.