After spurting to an intra-day high of 4,251 -- touched in the early morning deals -- the index slipped thereafter, and remained weak through the session. The unabated selling pressure in heavweights, PSUs, cement, pharma, tech and auto stocks towards the closing hours saw the Sensex slip to an intra-day low of 4,126 and finally ended 101 points lower at 4,134.

ITC, after a mixed outing during the intra-day trades, ended with a loss of a per cent (Rs 8) at Rs 773. HLL edged lower in the mid-afternoon trades and lost 3% (Rs 6) to Rs 178. Reliance, too, sailed in the negative territory through the session and slumped 3% (Rs 11) to Rs 394. Over 39.93 lakh shares changed hands on the BSE with a turnover of Rs 159 crore (Rs 1,590 million).

SBI slumped 5% (Rs 21) to Rs 404. More than 32 lakh shares were traded on the BSE with a turnover of Rs 133 crore (Rs 1,330 million). While MTNL dropped 4% to Rs 110, BHEL ended with a loss of Rs 2 at Rs 360.

HPCL, which suffered heavily for the last two sessions, however, remained firm through the session, and registered 2% gains (Rs 7) to Rs 335. Over 31.67 lakh shares were traded on the BSE on Thursday with a turnover of Rs 105 crore (Rs 1,050 million).

Infosys, gained ground in the opening trades to touch the day's high of Rs 4,347, but slipped thereafter to finish with a loss of 2% (Rs 70) at Rs 4,246. The tech bellwether clocked a volume of 3.67 lakh on the BSE with a turnover of Rs 157 crore (Rs 1,570 million). While HCL Tech lost 3% (Rs 5) to Rs 161, Satyam, too, ended in the losers list at Rs 236 - down Rs 5 or 2%.

Grasim (down 4% or Rs 23 to Rs 575), Gujarat Ambuja (down 4% or Rs 8 to Rs 207), ACC (down 4% or Rs 8 to Rs 182) and L&T (down 4% or Rs 12 to Rs 286) remained weak since opening trades and ended with steep losses.

Auto and pharma stocks, too, were battered today on sustained selling pressure.