Sensex closes flat in lacklustre trade
A benchmark index for Indian equities Thursday closed on a dull note, though broader markets saw more buying activity. A weak opening in the European markets too weighed heavy on the index.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,215.28 points, closed at 18,238.31 points, 32.44 points or 0.18 percent up from its previous close at 18,205.87 points.
It had risen to 18,355.84 points during the day.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty shut shop 0.26 percent up at 5,486.15 points.
Broader markets indices did better with the BSE midcap index closing 0.78 percent up while the BSE smallcap index ending 1.11 percent higher.
Consumer durables, FMCG, banking auto stocks were among the gainers, while IT and telecom scrips came under selling pressure.
The market breadth was positive with 1,848 scrips advancing, compared to 1,085 stocks declining and 122 remaining unchanged.
The major gainers on the Sensex were: Jaiprakash Associates, up 4.32 percent at Rs.114.70; Sterlite Industries, up 2.59 percent at Rs.160.60; Tata Power, up 1.67 percent at Rs.1,258.70; and HDFC, up 1.53 percent at Rs.632.05.
Among the losers were: Hero Honda, down 3.35 percent at Rs.1,699.75; TCS, down 1.59 percent at Rs.843.55; BHEL down 1.07 percent at Rs.2,397.25, and Bharti Airtel, down 0.96 percent at Rs.334.05.
Other Asian markets were in the green, backed by positive cues from Wall Street and traders doing some bargain hunting.
The Japanese Nikkei closed 1.52 percent higher at 9,062.84 points.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng ended 1.19 percent higher at 20,868.92 points. The Chinese Shanghai Composite index went up 1.25 percent at 2,655.78 points.
European markets were in a slump in view of the impending rate decision by the European Central Bank and release of key US economic data.
At the closing bell here, the FTSE 100 was trading 0.14 percent lower at 5,358.74 points
The German DAX was ruling 0.2 percent down at 6,071.43 points, while the French CAC 40 was trading 0.01 percent lower at 3,623.32 points.
