The stock markets gave up initial gains and closed with marginal losses on Monday

The stock markets gave up initial gains and closed with marginal losses on Monday mainly due to weakness in Realty, IT and Oil& Gas stocks. However, major support came from banking and FMCG stocks
The Sensex and Nifty opened higher buoyed by firm Asian markets. However, key stocks faced resistance at the day's higher levels due to selling by traders and investors with minimal buying support from investors. Realty, IT, Oil & Gas and Capital Goods i ndices showed weakness and were the major losers.
The BSE Sensex closed at 18,048.05, down 67.20 points from previous close. During the day, the index touched a high of 18,256.82 in the morning but fell steadily later to a low of 17,900.96.
The BSE Realty index was the big loser today and was down 290.32 points or 2.77 per cent at 10,206, while the BSE IT segment lost 50.74 or 1.31 per cent to 3,829.24.
The S&P CNX Nifty jumped to a high of 5,343.25 in the morning and fell afterwards to close at 5,276.90, down 26 points from yesterday's finish.
Shares of Reliance Power rose 7.66 per cent to Rs 414 today after the company said yesterday that its board would meet on Feb 24 to consider issuing bonus shares