Sensex opened at 4630.80 which was also day's high fell below the 4600 mark and touched the day's low of 4575.63 before closing at 4594.12, showing a net loss of 45.08 points from the previous close of 4639.20. The BSE-100 index declined by 18.61 points to 2027.79 as against the previous close of 2046.60. Brokers said volatile trading was noticed in software counters where some heavy-weight scrips posted smart gains while others dropped considerably. Apart from software, FMCG major Hindustan Lever, TELCO, ITC and others fell sharply on selling pressure. A negative investment of Rs 94 crore last Friday by foreign investors shattered the speculator confidence as they started profit-taking right from the opening of business in select high-priced shares.

The total turnover amounted to Rs 2502.45 crore and SatyamComputer topped the list of turnover by registering highest turnover of Rs 361.65 crore, followed by Pentafour Software Rs 270.34 crore, Ranbaxy Rs 242.56 crore, Zee Telefilm Rs 203.04 crore, TELCO Rs 91.95 crore and ITC Rs 81.79 crore. Of the 148 traded specified scrips, 75 declined while 70 advanced, including 10 scrips which were locked at the upper permissible limit of eight per cent, and three closed steady. Satyam Computer dropped by Rs 139 to Rs 1732. Pentafour dipped by Rs 83 to Rs 1263, TELCO by Rs 12.10 to Rs 266.50, Hindustan Lever by Rs 22 Rs to Rs 2700, ITC by Rs 35 to Rs 940 and Reliance by Rs 3.35 to Rs 174.20.