<p>Snapping a three-day upsurge, the BSE benchmark Sensex today fell by 120.25 points to close below the 20,000-mark on market participants booking profits at higher levels, amid a mixed overseas trend.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Sensex, which had gained 284 points in last three trading sessions, commenced the day higher at 20,156.86 before ending with a loss of 120.25 points, or 0.60 per cent at 19,981.57. GAIL, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Hindalco, SBI and TCS were among major losers in the Sensex pack.<br /><br />On similar lines, the broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty crossed 6,100 mark level for the first time in two yars before slipping to close 33.80 points lower at 6,048.50.<br /><br />Selling pressure developed as investors booked profits from the recent upsurge in stocks of auto, power and banking and oil and gas sectors, said brokers.<br /><br />FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Ltd today reported a 15.59 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 871.36 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2012. However, its shares slipped nearly 2.9 per cent.<br /><br />Trading sentiment was hit as global markets depicted a mixed trend as investors awaited cues from key US corporate earnings to be released later today.<br /><br />"European indices were showing mixed trend...Domestic market breadth was negative and profit-selling in lead stocks after recent gains led to pressure," said Rakesh Goyal, Senior Vice President, Bonanza Portfolio.<br /><br />Overall, in 30-share BSE Sensex, 21 stocks ended lower including Infosys, Hero MotoCorp, Sterlite Industries, Tata Steel and Tata Power.<br /><br />However, minor gains in Reliance Industries, ONGC and Bajaj Auto and around 1,5 per cent rise each in NTPC and Sun Pharma saved the market from a major fall.</p>
<p>Snapping a three-day upsurge, the BSE benchmark Sensex today fell by 120.25 points to close below the 20,000-mark on market participants booking profits at higher levels, amid a mixed overseas trend.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Sensex, which had gained 284 points in last three trading sessions, commenced the day higher at 20,156.86 before ending with a loss of 120.25 points, or 0.60 per cent at 19,981.57. GAIL, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Hindalco, SBI and TCS were among major losers in the Sensex pack.<br /><br />On similar lines, the broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty crossed 6,100 mark level for the first time in two yars before slipping to close 33.80 points lower at 6,048.50.<br /><br />Selling pressure developed as investors booked profits from the recent upsurge in stocks of auto, power and banking and oil and gas sectors, said brokers.<br /><br />FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Ltd today reported a 15.59 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 871.36 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2012. However, its shares slipped nearly 2.9 per cent.<br /><br />Trading sentiment was hit as global markets depicted a mixed trend as investors awaited cues from key US corporate earnings to be released later today.<br /><br />"European indices were showing mixed trend...Domestic market breadth was negative and profit-selling in lead stocks after recent gains led to pressure," said Rakesh Goyal, Senior Vice President, Bonanza Portfolio.<br /><br />Overall, in 30-share BSE Sensex, 21 stocks ended lower including Infosys, Hero MotoCorp, Sterlite Industries, Tata Steel and Tata Power.<br /><br />However, minor gains in Reliance Industries, ONGC and Bajaj Auto and around 1,5 per cent rise each in NTPC and Sun Pharma saved the market from a major fall.</p>