Mumbai, Apr 10: The markets closed weak today with the benchmark Sensex losing 95 points on negative global cues which triggered fag-end selling in heavyweight stocks, especially in banking sector.

The 30-share BSE bellwether settled the day at 15,695.10, a fall of 95.41 points, or 0.60 per cent, from its previous close.

The Sensex touched the intra-day high of 15,953.54 and dipped to a low of 15,655.20 points, reflecting volatile trade during the day.

The broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also eased by 14.05 points, or 0.30 per cent, to close at 4,733.00 from its last close of 4,747.05.

Heavyweight and the country's largest private sector lender ICICI Bank took a beating on aggressive selling. The bank's shares lost 4.25 per cent.

However, the Sensex's slide was mitigated by a sharp surge in shares of Reliance Energy. The blue-chip share jumped 6.5 per cent on reports that the company has bought a large chunk of its shares as part of the buy-back scheme commenced on March 25.

Asian markets were mixed throughout the day but European indices were very weak in their early trade. Key indices in France and Germany were down by more than 1.0 per cent while the key UK index traded 0.59 per cent lower.

Fresh purchases by foreign funds as well as domestic mutual funds helped the markets to show some stability in the major part of day, brokers said.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) made net purchases of Rs 1,890 crore in the last three days after April 4.

Sustained buying interest in the small-cap and mid-cap indicated increased participation of retail investors.

Bank shares were the worst affected. Its index fell 241 points, or 2.94 per cent.

Oil & Gas shares, however, were major gainers despite soaring crude oil prices.