Prominent among the losers were Jaiprakash Associates, down 2.64 percent at Rs.208.50; HDFC, down 1.11 percent at Rs.2,302.70; NTPC, down 0.88 percent at Rs.208.75, and ONGC, down 0.7 percent at Rs.1,151.55.

According to data with the regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors sold shares worth $47.5 million Tuesday.

Volumes were low as compared to the previous session. Total traded turnover stood at Rs.84,554.13 crore as against Rs.91,130.80 crore Monday.

In other Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, built on its gains backed by construction stocks after breaking its 10-month high Monday. It ended trade at 10,585.46 points, up 61.2 points.

The Hang Seng, the primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, also shut shop in the green at 21,074.21 points, up 144.69 points.

Futures of key US market indices were trading in the green pointing to a firmer opening by the main indices.