Sensex ends flat; FMCG, IT stocks fall

Mumbai  : A benchmark index of Indian equities markets ended Monday’s trade flat, as fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), information technology (IT) stocks fell.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,915.76 points, closed at 20,893.89 points, up 11 points or 0.05 percent from the previous day’s close at 20,882.89 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 20,970.92 points and a low of 20,768.99 points in intra-day trade.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also closed flat. It closed at 6,204.95 points, up 15.60 points or 0.25 percent.

Heavy buying pressure was observed in fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), information technology (IT) and technology, entertainment and media stocks.

However, healthy buying was observed in capital goods, metal and automobile sectors.

The S&P BSE FMCG index lost 85.23 points, while IT index was down 44.96 points and the TECk index was lower by 15.99 points.

However, capital goods index was up 352.77 points, followed by metal index which gained 156.61 points and automobile index which ended the day’s trade 87.55 points up.

The major Sensex gainers were Larsen and Toubro (L&T), up 6.05 percent or 52.80 points at Rs.925.15; Maruti Suzuki, up 3.20 percent or 47 points at Rs.1,516.60; Hindalco Inds, up 3.10 percent or 3.55 points at Rs.118.25; Tata Steel, up 2.34 percent at Rs.336.15; and Sesa Sterlite, up 1.97 percent at Rs.199.15.

The losers in the day’s trade were Jindal Steel, down 3.66 percent or 9.35 points at Rs.246.25; ITC down 2.63 percent or 9.30 points at Rs.344.70; Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), down 2.21 percent or 46.90 points at Rs.2,073.50; BHEL, down 1.52 percent or 2.25 points at Rs.145.70; and Bharti Airtel, down 1.14 percent or 4.05 points at Rs.352.55.

Among the Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei closed 0.91 percent up, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 0.42 percent, and China’s Shanghai Composite Index moved higher by 1.62 percent.

In Europe, London’s FTSE 100 was trading 0.21 percent higher, while Germany’s DAX Index was down 0.08 percent. The French CAC 40 Index was lower by 0.27 percent.

Photo  : AFP