Softer advices from Mumbai market, too, influenced the sentiment here to some extent as buyers failed to extend worthwhile support. The turnover was lower and undertone was quiet. With prices easing further all-round, the CSE's 40-shre index dipped again to finish at the day's worst at 2181.98 points after rallying early to 2219.65 points.

The fall in index would have been sharper but for the rise in Hind Lever which finished higher at Rs 2320. Among others closing above the previous rates were Himachal Futuristic at Rs 347.10, Sathyam Computer at Rs 1615.90 and IPCL at Rs 113.20 with LML traded at Rs 58.90. In the non-specified group, fresh interest was restricted and prices in most cases showed minor losses.

On the Madras Stock Exchange, too, select counters and popular scrips declined to close with moderate losses on selling pressure coupled with profit-taking. However, a few counters finished with small to handsome gains. The MSE index drifted by 69.35 points to close at 4706.56 against the previous day's lvel of 4775.91 points.

Reliance dropped by Rs 2.35 to Rs 225.25, while Silverline firmed up by Rs 32.35 to Rs 480. Shri MM Soft declined by Rs 5.60 to Rs 131.40, Polaris by Rs 2.85 to Rs 720 and DC Koth Export by Rs 3.80 to Rs 5.45. Advent Computer slipped by Rs 2.10 to Rs 52.90 as did Electropoly at Rs 70.