Sensex trades flat, auto, banking stocks down

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading flat late afternoon Monday amid high volatility. Auto, banking and FMCG stocks came under intense selling.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,551.69 points, was ruling at 17,553.18 points, 0.03 percent or 4.56 points down from its previous day’s close at 17,557.74 points.

The BSE auto index was down 73.14 points, followed by the banking index, down 43.96 points, and FMCG index, down 9.33 points.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was ruling 0.16 percent up at 5,328.65 points.

The main Sensex losers were Tata Motors, down 3.28 percent at Rs.224.40; Hindustan Unilever, down 1.93 percent at Rs.488.10; Hindalco Inds, down 1.91 percent at Rs.120.45; TCS, down 1.53 percent at Rs.1,258.30; and Hero MotoCorp, down 1.51 percent at Rs.1,885.20.

The major gainers were HDFC, up 2.65 percent at Rs.708; Maruti Suzuki, up 2.02 percent at Rs.1,187; Sterlite Inds, up 1.89 percent at Rs.113.10; and BHEL, up 1.57 percent at Rs.232.40.