Domestic stock markets started first session of calendar year 2019 on a lacklustre note.
The Sensex opened93 points higher at36,161 and Nifty at 10,881, up 19 points from previous close.
However, benchmark indices reversed those gains in first few minutes of trade, with Sensex falling as much as89 points to hit35,978, and Nifty shedding 29 pointsto touch 10,832.Weakness in auto and metal stocks amid absence of cues from Asian peers, as equity markets across region remained shut on account of New Year's Day, pulled thedomestic markets lower.At 9:31 am, Sensex traded46 points, or 0.1 per cent, lower at36,021 while Nifty was at10,850, down 12 points from previous close.
Top laggards on 50-scrip index, Nifty, werePowerGrid, Hindalco Industries, Indiabulls Housing Finance, Asian Paints and Eicher Motors, trading between 0.6 per cent and 1.1 per cent lower.The Sensex and Nifty registered gains of 5.9 per cent and 3.2 per cent in 2018 respectively, logging their third consecutive annual rise.