The BSE benchmark Sensex declined further by 15 points on Tuesday due to persistent selling pressure from operators ahead of the monetary policy meeting of the Reserve Bank of India.

Sustained selling by foreign funds over the past few days also weighed on the sentiment.

Investors were cautious on fears of a rise in interest rates at the RBI’s annual monetary policy meeting in the afternoon on Tuesday.

The barometer indices the BSE Sensex and the 50-unit S&P CNX Nifty hit their lowest level in more than five weeks.

The BSE benchmark Sensex resumed lower at 18,979.31 and hovered in a range between 19,008.21 and 18,898.08 before quoting at 18,983.45 at 1015 hours, showing a net loss of 14.57 points, or 0.08 per cent.

The NSE 50-share nifty also eased to 5,699.40 at 1015 hours from its overnight closing level.

As per provisional data, foreign institutional investors sold shares worth Rs 261.03 crore and domestic institutional investors sold shares worth Rs 150.52 crore on Monday.

Among the 30-member Sensex pack, 22 stocks declined while the rest gained.

Interest rate-sensitive auto shares declined on concerns that higher interest rates that could crimp sales.