The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today fell by nearly 15 points to about 19,687 from a 3-month high level on profit-booking as high crude oil prices raised investor concerns about inflation and hike in interest rates, amid weak markets globally.

The Sensex, lost 14.91 points to close the session at 19,686.82, after touching the day’s low of 19,523.54.

Marketmen said the trading sentiment turned bearish in view of high crude oil prices, fanning concerns that inflation might pick up, making corporate loans costlier as interest rates might go up again. Besides, some investors viewed the recent weeks’ gains very high, they added.

Weak Asian trend and lower openings in Europe also dampened the sentiment. Stock markets like Hong Kong, China and Taiwan were closed for a public holiday.

The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty, on the other hand, managed to close with a moderate gain of 1.6 points at 5,910.05. It had dipped to 5,855.85 intra-day.

Crude for May delivery settled at the highest level since September 22, 2008 and traded at $108.78 a barrel in New York on Monday.

The oil and gas index suffered the most as the heaviest weighed Reliance Industries fell by Rs 4.90 to Rs 1,044.95.

The banking stocks were under pressure as well. ICICI Bank fell by Rs 9.30 to Rs 1,110, HDFC Bank Rs 6.85 to Rs 2,391.60, HDFC Ltd, the top mortgage lender, down by Rs 7.25 at Rs 698.25 and Axis Bank Rs 4.80 at Rs 1,427.35.

The Information Technologies stocks, led by the second most heaviest on the Sensex, Infosys, recorded heavy losses on concerns that a rally in the Indian rupee may pare the earnings of exporters. The scrip fell by Rs 4.35 to Rs 3,279.50.

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