The Sensex and the Nifty ended the session marginally in the red due to fresh selling by funds and retail investors in select stocks amid negative global cues.
The 30-share BSE index Sensex was down 43.09 points (0.21 per cent) at 20,854.92 and the 50-share NSE index Nifty was down 16 points (0.26 per cent) at 6,201.85.
According to Equentis technical outlook market report, global market trend, institutional (FII) activity and dollar-rupee pair move will dictate the near-term trend for Indian markets.
"The market is expected to remain volatile as counting for Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan Assembly elections will be held as per schedule on December 8. The Winter Session of Parliament will be on from December 5 to December 20," the report added.
On the BSE, realty, oil & gas, metal and power sector stocks found investors' support and were up 1.24 per cent, 0.51 per cent, 0.24 per cent and 0.21 per cent, respectively.
On the other hand, FMCG, consumer durables, banking and auto sector stocks succumbed to profit-booking and were down 0.83 per cent, 0.58 per cent, 0.56 per cent and 0.43 per cent, respectively.
GAIL, Jindal Steel, BHEL, Hindalco and RIL were the top five Sensex gainers, while the top five losers were SSLT, Dr Reddy's, L&T, NTPC and Coal India.
European shares were in the red as investors awaited the US jobs data this week to gauge the timing of reduction in Federal Reserve stimulus. Asian shares were also down.
According to a report released yesterday, the US factory output rose to a two-and-a-half year high indicating signs of economic revival. In fact, factory output across the globe showed revival of economic activity.