Sensex down

Sensex down 21 pts; fails to sustain early gains

Snapping two-day rally, the BSE Sensex on Tuesday ended 21 points down on profit selling by funds, especially in IT stock led by software exporter Infosys ahead of its quarterly earnings and a weak trend in Europe.  

The Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensex, which had gained 765 points in last two trading sessions, extended gains at the outset to climb 16,774.12, before ending 20.76 points lower at 16,536.47.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty fell 5.25 points to 4,974.35, after climbing to 5,045.10.

The markets opened higher on firm cues from Asia but lower openings in Europe amid uncertainty over euro-zone debt bailout plans pulled down the stocks.

Brokers said the beginning of the second quarter earnings season this week with Infosys results on Wednesday kept the investor confidence a little shaky