Sensex ends lower by 61 points

The index touched the day8217;s low of 17,927.92 points.

The 50-share Nifty of the National Stock Exchange index however gained 6.70 points at 5,280.80, after touching the day8217;s low of 5,225.25 and a high of 5,391.60 points.

A steep fall in banking, realty and heavy-machinery stocks mainly pulled down the market after the RBI kept key rates unchanged in its quarterly monetary policy review meeting on Tuesday, brokers said.

They said RBI8217;s unchanged rates would reduce demand for housing and new constructions and helped pulling down the retail index.