Sensex trading flat; metal, FMCG stocks fall

Mumbai  : A benchmark index for Indian equities markets was trading flat in afternoon trade Friday, as metal, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and healthcare stocks came under sustained selling by funds amid weak overseas cues.

The 30-scrip Sensex, which opened at 19,577.19 points, was ruling at 19,590.58 points, up 10.26 points or 0.05 percent from its previous close at 19,580.32 points.

The Sensex touched an intra-day high of 19,648.07 points and a low of 19,549.13 points. The midcap index was down 18.61 points, while the smallcap index edged lower by 30.99 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading lower by 9.35 points or 0.16 percent at 5,929.45 points.

Traders reported a weak trend as other Asian markets turned bearish ahead of a European Central Bank policy decision on the euro zone economy and FIIs started selling. There was heavy selling pressure in metal, FMCG and healthcare stocks.

However, capital goods, information technology (IT) and technology, entertainment and media (TECk) stocks rallied.

Major indices like the metal index was down 64.84 points. And so were the FMCG index, down 61.73 points, and the healthcare index, down 42.27 points.

The capital goods index was up 126.64 points, followed by the IT index, up 70.14 points, and the TECk index, up 37.67 points.

Photo  : AFP