The 30-share index BSE Sensex continued to trade in the downbeat manner with the index dropping 57 points at 18,989.

In the meantime, the broad-based Nifty declined 16 points to trade at 5,695.

The broader markets remained in the positive terrain, with the midcap surging 0.6% and smallcap appending 0.8%.

Among the sectoral indices, the Oil & Gas index surged 1% accompanied by Consumer Durables, Automobile and PSU.

IT, Metal, FMCG and Health Care dropped 0.2% - 1%.

Reliance Communications surged around 2%.

BHEL, SBI, Rel Infra, RIL, Bajaj Auto and Mahindra & Mahindra remained up by 1% each.

The losers list comprised Wipro, which declined 3%.

The scrips that dropped 1% each included Jindal Steel, Bharti Airtel, HDFC, Tata Power, Infosys and Cipla.

Market breadth remained optimistic as it saw 1617 advancements as against 976 declinations.