The BSE benchmark Sensex on Monday ended 18 points lower in the last trading session of 2012 as cautious invstors reduced their positions amid a weakening global trend.
After a better start, the Sensex moved between 19,491.08 and 19,406.17, before ending with a moderate loss of
18.13 points to 19,426.71.
The gauge recorded its biggest gain of 26% after 2009 amid government economic reforms measures, including opening foreign direct investment in the retail sector.
The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty shed 3.25 points to 5,905.10.
Brokers said the market remained jittery in the last trading session of the calender year with most foreign institutional investors were off the market for a winter break.
They said the market remained under pressure on a weakening global trend as US lawmakers still struggling to reach a deal on tax-hike threshold and spending cuts.
In 30-BSE index components, 17 stocks gained, while 13 closed with losses. The two most heaviest with their nearly 18% weightage - Reliance Industries and Infosys- ended with moderate losses.
The market received cushion as index-linked Wipro gained 0.79% to Rs. 394.35 after it approved to separate the consumer care and lighting businesses to focus on information technology.
The capital goods sector index suffered the most by losing 0.33% to 10,868.11 followed by FMCG index by 0.27% to 5,916.22 as ITC Ltd lost 0.81% to Rs. 286.80.