The Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share sensitive index, Sensex, closed below the 9000-level even as the market recovered from its intra-day lows on hopes that the central bank will provide more relaxation in the monetary plan.

The BSE Sensex marked its closure at 8966.68 after losing 35.07 points as against its last close on Thursday.

The market also hit a low of 8867.13 on the back of mixed movements in worldwide markets.

The National Stock Exchange’s 50-share Nifty, however, remained flat at 2807.05 as compared to its last close of 2807.15.

Real estate stocks bore the brunt of profit booking as the BSE Realty index dipped 4.14% followed by Consumer goods, which dipped 2.54% and Bankex down by 1.95%. The BSE Metal index gained 1.6% on Friday.

According to brokers, Indian equities looked volatile during the day amid buoyancy that the RBI might further relieve monetary plan after inflationary figures fell to a record low of 0.44% during the first week of March 2009.

Among the pivotals, leading vehicle maker Tata Motors was down 6.24 per cent, ICICI Bank 4.50 per cent, L&T 4.01 per cent, Maruti Suzuki 2.59 per cent, BHEL 2.32 per cent SBI 1.51 per cent and DLF 1.30 per cent. However, Hindalco surged by 5.66 per cent, ONGC by 3.41 per cen and Tata Steel by 1.67 per cent.

The gainers’ list included Hindalco Industries (5.66%), Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (3.41%), Tata Steel (1.67%), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (1.58%), Housing Development Finance Corporation (1.57%), and Hindustan Unilever (1.17%).

On the other hand, the major losers in the Sensex were Tata Motors (-6.24%), ICICI Bank (-4.50%), Larsen & Toubro (-4.01%), Maruti Suzuki India (-2.59%), Bharat Heavy Electricals (-2.32%), and Reliance Capital (-1.81%).

Indian currency closed weak after losing 25 paise at 50.63/64 versus the US dollar on Friday. The rupee declined on the back of heavy dollar demand from banks and some major business houses amid minor capital inflows.

Asian stocks fell, led by banks and technology companies, after the benchmark index`s largest weekly gain since August 2007 drove ratings to the peak in over a year.

Hang Seng index lost 297.41 points to close at 12,833.51 and Shanghai Composite gained 15.33 points to settle at 2,281.09.

European stocks went down. Barclays lost around 3.5%. Deutsche Telekom dropped over 2%.

FTSE 100 lost 36.47 points to trade at 3,780.46, CAC 40 dropped 31.74 points to trade at 2,745.25 and DAX fell 28.18 points to trade at 4,015.28. (4.14 p.m., IST)