Investors turned conservative on Tuesday as the Sensex broke its forward march of eight days after the participants chose not to lower their guard further ahead of September quarter GDP data. The caution was partly because of the upcoming expiry of derivative contracts slated for Thursday. National output numbers are also due the same day. Counters such as consumer durables, pharma and oil & gas and PSU stocks took the blows as investors pulled money off the table.
After opening a shade higher, the 30-share Sensex slipped into the red, but regained its composure and settled lower by 105.85 points, or 0.31 per cent, at 33,618.59. The index had risen 964 points in the past eight sessions, spurred by unabated buying by domestic institutional investors (DIIs) and Moody’s India sovereign rating upgrade. The 50-share NSE Nifty too dropped 29.30 points, or 0.28 per cent, at 10,370.25. During the day, it traded between 10,355.20 and 10,409.55.