Mumbai: After a promising start, the SENSEX turned weak falling below 3,600-level in line with a fresh slide in select key counters at early stages on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on March 19 due to consistent selling pressure from speculators and retail investors.

After rising at the outset to a high of 3,629.48, the BSE sensitive index dipped to 3,588.45 before being quoted at 3,591.84 at 10.30 am (IST) as against the March 18 close of 3,613.28.

Dealers partly attributed the indefinite strike by transport operators in Maharashtra to depressed sentiment saying consumer stocks were directly affected due to the strike that entered the third day.

Select heavyweights like Zee Telefilms, Telco, Satyam Computers, RIL, HLL, HPCL and some others were quoted moderately lower due to selling pressure.

Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 66.08 points and the NASDAQ Composite Index eased by 3.60 points on March 18 night.

PTI