After three straight weeks of gains, Indian stock markets were dominated by bears amid volatile trading Monday, resulting in a key index diving over 125 points at one stage to finally ending with a loss of 75.91 points.

The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) that had gained over 13 percent in the past three weeks came under heavy selling pressure and profit taking, especially in index heavyweights and some key counters.

The barometer index, nevertheless, opened on a positive note at 8,699.27 points, compared with the previous trading day close at 8,686.65 points. But it closed the day at 8,610.70 points or a loss of 0.87 percent.

Soon after trading commenced, the Sensex moved up to 8,713.10 points for a brief while, which also was the day's high, before instability set in and pulled the index down to the day's low of 8,586.92 points.

"The Sensex had gained over 13 percent in the past three weeks since the low of below the 7,600-point mark three weeks ago. So cautious investors preferred to remain on the sidelines," an analyst with a brokerage here said.

The barometer index had scaled an all-time high of 8,821.84 points Oct 5, after which it fell to a low of 7,656.15 points Oct 28 before climbing up again in the ensuing three weeks.

"A recovery - as was witnessed in some past sessions - was also prevented today (Monday), since every minor upturn was seen as an opportunity to book profits further," the analyst added.

As many as 20 stocks that comprise the 30-share index logged losses, as against gains for 10 others. Software, telecom, energy, banking and engineering stocks came under severe pressure, while select automobile counters ended higher.

The 10 gainers among the Sensex stocks were led by Grasim, up 2.99 percent at Rs.1,320.65, followed by Bajaj Auto, up 2.94 percent at Rs.2,057 and Hero Honda, up 2.76 percent at Rs.838.85.

Housing Development Finance Corp, up 2.76 percent at Rs.1,069.35, National Thermal Power Corp, up 1.46 percent at Rs. 104, Cipla, up 1.45 percent at Rs.398.15 and Dr. Reddy's, up 0.62 percent at Rs. 928.55 were also up.

The losers were led by Hindustan Aluminium, down 8.28 percent at Rs.125.20, followed by Reliance Energy, down 3.91 percent at Rs. 552.25, ITC, down 3.10 percent at Rs.126.75 and ICICI Bank, down 2.77 percent at Rs.522.70.

Other losers included HDFC Bank, down 2.72 percent at Rs.680.25, Tata Steel, down 2.42 percent at Rs.360.45, Satyam Computers, down 2.36 percent at Rs.630.55 and Maruti Udyog, down 2.21 percent at Rs.595.15.