India, Oct. 1 -- Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty closed lower for the third consecutive session on Wednesday, dragged down by last-hour selling in metal and pharma shares amid firm crude oil prices and elevated global bond yields.

Giving up all intraday gains, the 30-share BSE Sensex declined 48.78 points, or 0.07 per cent, to settle at 72,480.29 on fag-end selling. After a flat start, the index had gained 533.16 points, or 0.73 per cent, to hit a high of 73,062.23.

The 50-share NSE Nifty dropped 95.75 points, or 0.42 per cent, to end at 22,620.45.

This month, the BSE benchmark tanked 4,476.98 points, or 5.81 per cent, and the Nifty dropped 1,459.95 points, or 6 per cent. Among the 30 Sensex firms, Eternal, Sun Pharma, Titan, ...