The market on Thursday remained under pressure with the benchmark Sensex falling by 29 points at 1015 hours on fresh profit selling amid mixed Asian cues.
The market is expected to witness volatile trade during the day due to approaching expiry of derivatives series on November
26.
The Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share barometer was quoted at 16,969.64 at 1015 hours, down 29.14 points or 0.17 per cent from its last close.
The broader 50-share Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also fell by 6.15 points or 0.12 per cent to 5,048.55 at 1015 hours from its previous close.
The smallcap and midcap stocks, however, continued attract buying interest from investors.
Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank, Infosys Technologies and Mahindra & Mahindra were trading lower in the initial 15 minutes of trading.
Tata Steel and Hero Honda, however, showed moderate gains on sustained buying support in the stocks.