Indian stock markets ended the week on a lower note as investors booked profits across most large and small shares prior to a short trading week.

The 30-share index BSE Sensex dropped 139.73 points (0.7%) to mark its closure at 19,451.40.

On the other hand, the broad-based Nifty closed the week after losing 43.70 points (0.7%) at 5,842.

On the BSE, the trading volume declined to Rs 34.41 billion as against Rs 35.09 billion recorded on Thursday.

Out of the 30 Sensex constituents, 25 closed in the negative.

Mr. Harish Vasudevan, an analyst at SVS Securities, stated, "Activity in the market is down due to the holidays next week and investors and funds have lowered their arbitrage activity in stocks."

"Large investors are wary to carry positions in a short trading week due to less flexibility and higher carrying costs," Mr. Vasudevan added.

Mr. Harish anticipates the beginning of the business outcomes by the coming week to give capitalists the chance to take longer calls on the market.

Indian bourses will remain close on Tuesday and Thursday owing to local holidays.

Traders anticipate the Sensex to trade in a range of 19,200-19,900 during next week.

Reliance Ind Ltd, India's biggest company by market value, ended on a lower note after shedding 1.5% at Rs 1,024.25.

Realty shares including DLF, Unitech closed on a lower note.

Software scrips, too, ended lower as investors chose to wait for the outcomes of the bellwether Infosys Technologies, and as the Indian currency gained against the US dollar.

Infosys, which is scheduled to report results April 15, ended 0.6% down at Rs 3226.95, whereas Wipro lost 1.3% to mark its closure at Rs 465.45.

Auto manufacturers declined on worries that increasing rates as well as inflationary numbers will eat into sales and profit margins.

Tata Motors ended 2.8% down at Rs 2,254.95, whilst Maruti Suzuki dropped 2% to Rs 1,254.20.

ICICI Bank closed the week after shedding 0.4% and State Bank of India shed 1.1%.