Sensex falls for fourth day, banks hit ahead of RBI meet

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The BSE Sensex fell for a fourth consecutive session on Monday to its lowest in more than two weeks as Hindustan Unilever dropped after brokerage downgrades, while interest rate-sensitive stocks fell ahead of the RBI's policy review.

Hindustan Unilever fell for a second consecutive session on Monday after J.P. Morgan and Macquarie downgrade their ratings, citing the prospect of slowing revenue.

Lenders including HDFC Bank and State Bank of India extended falls on uncertainty ahead of Reserve Bank of India's policy review on Tuesday.

The BSE Sensex provisionally fell 0.86 percent to 19,578.03, the lowest close since July 11. The index has fallen 3.6 percent over the last four sessions until Monday.

 

The Nifty closed down 0.93 percent at 5,831.65 points.

(Reporting by Himank Sharma; Editing by Rafael Nam)