Sensex declines on weak European cues; Tata pack down

The BSE Sensex was marginally down amid choppy trade, weighed down by weakness in European markets. France's CAC and Germany's DAX fell over 1% while Britain's FTSE lost 0.65% on concerns over Spain and fall in metals stocks. Greece, Italy and Spain markets too were down 1-2%.

The 30-share BSE benchmark declined 44 points to 18,498.62, weighed down by Tata pack, oil & gas, metals and power stocks. Meanwhile, the 50-share NSE benchmark was down 10.55 points to 5,599.45.

Country's largest software services exporter TCS tanked 2.7% while commercial vehicle maker Tata Motors, private power producer Tata Power and steel manufacturer Tata Steel went down 1%.

Index heavyweight Reliance Industries, aluminium major Hindalco Industries and state-run power producer NTPC dropped 2% each.

Private sector lender ICICI Bank and housing finance company HDFC were down over 1% while top lender State Bank of India shot up 3%.

State-owned power equipment manufacturer BHEL surged over 4.5% while shares of GAIL and Jindal Steel jumped 3% each.

Utility vehicle maker M&M, Software services exporter Infosys, cigarette major ITC and telecom operator Bharti Airtel moved up 1-1.5%.