Sensex closes 17 pts down

Updated at 5.00 pm

MUMBAI: The BSE Sensex closed with a modest loss of 17 points on Friday after a lacklustre trading session marked with alternate bouts of buying and selling in the absence of any major cues.

The Sensex, ended 16.60 points down at 12,372.81 after swaying more than 75 points between the positive and negative territories.

The Sensex also registered its first weekly loss after 10 consecutive weeks of gains.

Buying interest was mostly confined to the midcap and small-cap stocks.

About 62 per cent of total BSE stocks moved higher, as against about 36 per cent closing with losses. However, the advance-decline ratio was negative among the 30 Sensex scrips.

Hindalco, Reliance Communications, Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank were among the major gainers, while HLL, HDFC, ITC, Satyam, Wipro and Reliance Energy were the major losers on the Sensex.

Positive trends were seen in the metal, energy and engineering sectors, while FMCG stocks were among the major losers. Lacklustre sentiments were witnessed on the IT, auto and banking counters.