Mumbai: The SENSEX closed in negative territory for fourth straight session in persistent lackluster activity on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on March 27 due to small buying, alternated by selling from speculators.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), which have slowed down activity for the last several days in the light of fluid political situation in the country, and domestic funds stayed away from making any major purchases.

The BSE Benchmark 30-share Index opened modestly up at 3472.96 and later attempted a mild rally rising to the day's high of 3503.80 before ending at 3459.08 as against March 26 close of 3466.29, a net fall of 7.21 points.

The broad-based BSE-100 Index, however, edged up by 1.61 points to 1707.02 from previous close of 1705.41.

Attributing some buying support in select counters to squaring up in derivatives ahead of the month-end on March 28, market sources said the low volume was due to a drastic slow down by institutional investors, which seemed to have turned cautious following continuing violence in worst-affected Ahmedabad city.

Broking fraternity also reacted negatively to issuance of notices by Income tax department to brokers for filing names and addresses of clients entering into transactions of or above Rs 20,000, sources added.

Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite Index finished up by 11.68 points and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 71.69 points on March 26 night.

PTI