Sensex falls over 64 pts, down for fourth day in a row

Earlier today, the HSBC/Markit Purchasing Managers Index for the services industry fell to 46.7 in December from 47.2 in November, registering the sixth consecutive monthly drop in output levels.

Later, government data showed gross direct tax collections rose 12.33 per cent to Rs 4.81 lakh crore during the first nine months of this financial year.  

Infosys, which fell 1.44 per cent, is the first among bluechips to kick off December quarter earnings when it releases earnings on January 10.

The rupee continued to be sluggish and was last trading at 62.35 levels against the dollar when stock markets closed.The BSE Midcap index closed 0.35 per cent higher while the Smallcap barometer jumped 0.95 per cent.

In the smallcap space, Mastek shares surged over 11 per cent on ahead of the January 8 board meet to consider equity buyback. Financial Technologies jumped more than 10 per cent.

Sectorally, the BSE Banking sector index suffered the most by losing 1.13 per cent, followed by Realty index (0.71 per cent), IT index (0.49 per cent), Power index (0.41 per cent) and Oil & Gas index (0.21 per cent).