Mumbai: The BSE benchmark Sensex on November 21 closed 212 points lower on profit-booking ahead of the ending of calendar year amid a weak trend in the overseas markets.

The Sensex dropped by 211.92 points, or 1.09 percent, to 19,242 led by realty, metal and healthcare sectors.

The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty dropped by 68.70 points, or 1.16 percent, to 5,847.70.

Brokers said profit-booking by major market players ahead of the ending of calendar year amid steep fall in overseas markets as hopes of solution to the U.S. budget deficit issue mainly pulled down the trading sentiment.

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"Global cues also were not supportive as fiscal cliff issues continue to overshadow any other economic news," Amar Ambani, Head of Research, IIFL, said.

Bharti Airtel shares lost 3 percent on reports of CBI filing chargesheet in connection with alleged irregularities in spectrum allocation during the NDA regime involving three telecom companies.

Asian and European stocks fell from a 19-month high after reports said American House Republicans cancelled a vote on higher taxes for top earners, fuelling concern budget talks will fail.

In 30-share BSE Sensex components, barring ITC and Tata Consultancy Services, all the stocks closed with losses.

The realty sector index suffered the most by losing 3.51 per cent to 2,048.55 followed by metal index by 1.80 percent to 11,039.17. The capital goods index lost 1.66 percent to 10,735.11 and banking index by 1.34 percent to 14,151.18.

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