The benchmark indices saw yet another unpredictable day, and ended on a pessimistic note for the third consecutive day.

The BSE Sensex marked its closure at 10,817, down 81 points, after touching an intraday peak of 11,036 and low of 10,715.

In contrast, the broad-based Nifty closed after losing 35 points at 3,330. It hit an intraday high of 3,401 and low of 3,296 respectively.

BSE Midcap and Smallcap Index dropped 40 points and 65 points respectively.

Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks inched downward Thursday as investors stayed away from buying ahead of the expected release of corporate earnings reports.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average declined 40.66 points, or 0.47 per cent, to 8,686.64.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 2.36 points, or 0.28 per cent, at 827.6.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 98.01-06 yen, down from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 98.15-16 yen.

It was yet another volatile day, when the benchmark indices closed negative for the third consecutive day, due to profit booking by investors.

However, mix of short covering and buying in spot led by upswing in European markets helped indices to recover some losses.

The BSE Sensex closed lower by 80.57 points at 10,817.54, while NSE Nifty ended the day, down by 35 points at 3,330.30. The BSE Sensex touched intraday high of 11,036.24 and intraday low of 10,715.66.

The National Stock Exchange, through a circular, has decided to exclude 50 stocks from the Futures & Options segment. Most of the stocks were seen under pressure in today's trading session.

These firms, including Alok Textiles, Arvind, Ballarpur Industries, Bata India, Gateway, GNFC, Jet Airways, MindTree, NDTV, Network 18, Reliance Industrial Infrastructure, S. Kumars, Strides Arcolab, TVS Motor, UTV Software and Wockhardt. Traders will not be able to trade in F&O segment in these stocks after the expiry of contracts for existing months.

Global cues were good, but Indian Stocks markets turned negative after positive opening on Wednesday. Selling was seen in select capital goods, metals, pharma and banking stocks.

The BSE Sensex closed at 10,817 down 81 points after hitting an intraday high of 11,036 and low of 10,715. The Nifty shut at 3,330 down 1.04% or 35 points. It has hit a high of 3,401 and low of 3,296 respectively. Among the broader indices the BSE Midcap Index fell 40 points and the Smallcap Index slipped 65 points.

Indian Stock markets closed negative for the third consecutive day after a positive opening. Selling was witnessed in select counters at higher levels. The BSE Sensex closed at 10,817 down 81 points after hitting an intraday high of 11,036 and low of 10,715. The Nifty shut at 3,330 down 1.04% or 35 points. It has hit a high of 3,401 and low of 3,296 respectively. Among the broader indices the BSE Midcap Index fell 40 points and the Smallcap Index slipped 65 points. Selling was seen in select capital goods, metals, pharma and banking stocks.