New Delhi, May 19 -- Indian stock indices kicked off the new week negatively, with benchmark Sensex and Nifty settling 0.3 per cent lower from their previous closing. On Friday, too, the indices traded in the red.

The declines are possibly due to the profit-booking following the latest rally. Sensex is now some 4,000 points below its all-time high of 85,978 points.

NSE data showed that among the sectoral indices, Nifty IT and Nifty Media were the top losers, while Nifty PSU Bank, Nifty Realty, and Nifty Pharma were the top gainers.

Prashanth Tapse, Senior Vice President (Research) at Mehta Equities Ltd, said, "Markets languished in negative territory for major part of the trading session as weak Asian and European indices resulted in i...