Indian share prices closed lower Tuesday on sustained profit taking in most blue chips and concern that cement sales, a leading economic indicator, may be lower than expected this month, dealers said.
The Mumbai stock exchange's 30-share Sensex slipped 0.09 percent or 7.78 points to 8,815.35.
Volumes were moderate at 28.51 billion rupees (633 million dollars) as 1,329 stocks declined, while 1,116 gained. Dealers said that cement sales may be below expectations during the current quarter to December.
"The mood is still that of profit taking," said a dealer with domestic brokerage Prabudas Liladhar. Leading cement stock Grasim fell 29.10 rupees or 2.08 percent to 1,371.10.
The rupee gained to 46.18 against the dollar from 46.28 on Monday, but slipped to 54.43 against the euro from 54.18.