The Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex ended the day with a loss of 282 points as index heavy-weights experienced huge selling amid political uncertainty. The traders were selling in metal, oil and real estate counters and the BSE benchmark index touched an intra-day low of 17322.

Reliance Energy, Tata Steel and Ranbaxy Labs were among major losers. The markets opened strong and were about to breach 18000 levels, but due to selling pressure across all sectors the indices started their southward journey.

For BSE Sensex, the range for the day was between 17,322.14 and 17,982.59. The markets missed 18000 by just 18 points.

Metal and Real estate counters were weak in today’s trading session. Tata Steel lost more than 5 per cent. Reliance Energy and Ranbaxy Labs lost nearly 4.7% due to selling pressure. However, technology stocks were strong and Satyam computers managed to close 2.5% higher.

NSE Nifty ended with a loss of 100.75 points at 5085. Reliance Industries, Tata Motors, Reliance Energy, HDFC, NTPC, BHEL, L&T and Tata Steel were most active counters on Bombay Stock Exchange.