Nifty ends below 8,700-level, drops 51 pts

Retreating continuously for the sixth straight session, the Nifty failed to hold the key 8,700 level amid selling in key counters, leading the benchmark Nifty to loss 60.65 points to end at 8,661.05.
The Index witnessed a lacklustre trading momentum as investors continued to connect with dismal corporate earning results as well as sustained selling by FIIs.
Caution also prevailed over uncertainty in Delhi state Assembly polls due tomorrow.
Selling was seen in heavyweights of Auto, Banking, Energy, Pharma and Realty segments, however, IT and FMCG saw buying interest bucking the trend.
Meanwhile, Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 27.43 crore yesterday as per the provisional data from the stock exchanges.

Elsewhere, Asian stock mostly ended mixed ahead of key US jobs report.

The Broader 50-share index hovered between a high of 8,726.20 and a low of 8,645.55 before concluding at 8,661.05 down 50.65 points, or 0.58 per cent over its previous close.
Shares of auto major Tata Motors slumped 5.06 per cent after the company reported 25.5 per cent drop in consolidated net profit for the December quarter.
Other major losers were, BHEL 4.59 per cent, DLF 3.51 per cent, SunPharma 3.41 per cent, Jindal Steel 2.90 per cent, Tata Steel 2.79 per cent, M&M 2.54 per cent, and ICICI Bank 1.86 per cent.

However, notable gainers were Cairn by 2.87 per cent, HDFC by 2.74 per cent, NMDC 2.03 per cent, Infy 1.67 per cent, SSLT 1.35 per cent and ITC 1.25 per cent.
Turnover in the cash segment dipped to Rs 17,311.86 crore from Rs 19,617.55 crore yesterday. A total of 9,131.63 lakh shares changed hands in 75,12,546 trades. The market capitalisation at NSE stood at Rs 99,30,892 crore.