The benchmark indices ended lower for the second consecutive on the back of weak US and Asian cues. The Sensex closed 147 points lower at 11,873 after swinging in the range of 11935-11695. The Nifty shut down 1.15% or 42 points to settle at 3,593. Among the broader indices the BSE Midcap Index was up 15 points and the Smallcap Index rose 23 points. Selling pressure was seen in oil & gas, technology and capital goods stocks, while buying was visible in realty, auto and FMCG.

Inflation for the week-ended May 2 has come in at 0.48% as against 0.7% week-on-week.

Movers & Shakers

The BSE oil & gas index fell 1.5 % led by a decline in Essar Oil, Cairn India, Reliance and ONGC down 1-6%.

The realty index on the BSE rose 2.6 %. DLF jumped 7.2 % to Rs 249. HDIL and Ibrealestate were up more than 1.5% each.

Capital goods saw selling pressure, the index was down 1.14% or 96 points. L&T slipped 2.55% and BHEL was down 1.20%.

The BSE Metal Index slipped 0.98% or 76 points, to 7,736. Stocks like Sterlite and Hindustan Zinc tumbled over 5%. JSW Steel, Jindal Saw, Hindalco and Tata Steel declined 0.3-1.3%.

Huge buying was seen in shipping stocks as baltic dry freight index hit new 2009 high at 2332. Essar Shipping was up 17.92%. ABG Shipyard, GE Shipping and Mercator Lines were up 6% each.

In the Sensex pack DLF led the gainers up 7.2%. The stock surged on reports that it plans to raise $2bn in the next 2-3 years. Other gainers in the pack were Ranbaxy, Reliance Infra and HUL up 1-3%.

Sterlite Industries was the biggest loser in the Sensex group. The stock fell 5.5 % to Rs 449. Bharti Airtel, Tata Motors and Wipro down over 2.7 % each, were the other major losers.