The markets were buoyed by the liquidity provided by FIIs, especially over the last few months. With the dollar strengthening and FIIs recasting investment strategies for 2005, there has been a dip in FII inflows.

The fall in the markets for two consecutive days last week also weakened investor sentiment, according to analysts. Investors are booking profits as the market has suddenly changed gears from being confidently bullish to unpredictably volatile.

The start of the corporate earning seasons is also leaving the market jittery. Sensex heavyweight Infosys Technologies lost Rs56.75, or 2.77 per cent of its value during today's trade on speculation that the company's result may fall short of market expectations.

Global markets have also had a weak opening with most eastern markets' indices closing lower.