Tracking a decline in Asian peers, Indian equity indices snapped a three-day winning streak and closed in the red on Monday in volatile trade, dragged by banking, financial and IT shares.
On consolidation after the recent rally, the BSE benchmark Sensex declined 169 points or 0.24% to settle at 71,315, while NSE Nifty fell 38 points or 0.18% to end at 21,418.
Nifty Banks and Financial Services lost 0.6% and 0.4%, respectively, after rising 2% each in the last two sessions. Information technology stocks fell 0.3%, snapping a two-session rally in which the index rose about 8%.
The market breadth was skewed in favour of the bulls. About 2,175 stocks gained, 1,712 declined, and 141 remained unchanged on the BSE.