A benchmark index for Indian equities was back in the red after a brief foray into positive terrain and was ruling 22 points lower than its previous close, about 90 minutes before the closing bell.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,645.91 points, was ruling at 17,616.65 points, 22.61 points or 0.13 percent lower than its previous close at 17,639.26 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 5,264.75 points, a loss of 0.17 percent from its previous close.
Broader market indices too were ruling in the negative with the BSE midcap index trading 0.28 percent lower and the BSE small cap index ruling 0.1 percent down.
Realty, capital goods and PSU scrips were facing bulk of the selling pressure.
The market breadth was negative with 1,122 stocks advancing, compared to 1,663 on the decline, while 170 remained unchanged.
Other Asian markets too had a fairly poor day.
{{/usCountry}}Other Asian markets too had a fairly poor day.
{{/usCountry}}Hong Kong's Hang Seng closed 1.34 percent lower at 21,859.93 points, while the Chinese Shanghai composite index was down 1.1 percent at 3,130.3 points.
The South Korean Kospi closed 0.54 percent down at 1,734.49 points, while the Japanese Nikkei shut shop in the red at 11,102.18 points -- down 1.52 percent.