By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index for Indian equities Monday closed flat in the absence of any triggers.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,400.33 points, closed at 18,409.35 points, up a meagre 7.5 points from its previous close at 18,401.82 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty shut shop 0.23 percent higher at 5,543.5 points.
Midfield stocks had a far better day than the frontline scrips, with the BSE midcap index closing 0.84 percent up and the BSE smallcap index ending 0.94 percent higher.
FMCG stocks weighed the markets down, while consumer durables scrips shot up handsomely. PSU stocks too gained.
The market breadth was tilted towards the positive with 1,738 scrips advancing, compared to 1,216 stocks declining and 99 remaining unchanged.
Among the gainers on the Sensex were Jindal Steel, up 2.85 percent at Rs.708.35; Cipla, up 2.22 percent at Rs.317.30; Bharti Airtel, up 2.16 percent at Rs.316.85; and ONGC, up 1.97 percent at Rs.1,282.85.
The losing scrips included Reliance Infra, down 2.36 percent at Rs.1,044.35; ITC, down 2.09 percent at Rs.159.40; Jaiprakash Associates, down 2.03 percent at Rs.120.75; and HDFC, down 1.73 percent at Rs.628.65.
According to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors bought scrips worth $153.26 million Monday.
Other major Asian bourses were in the red as trading progressed cautiously after reports of a economic recovery slowing pace in the US and Europe.
The Japanese Nikkei closed 0.68 percent lower at 9,116.69 points while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was down 0.44 percent at 20,889.01 points.
The Chinese Shanghai Composite index closed on a sombre note as well, down 0.11 percent at 2,639.37 points.
European stocks rose higher during mid-day led by mining stocks after news that a punitive mining tax in Australia may be scrapped once a new government is formed.
At the closing bell here, the FTSE 100 was trading 0.8 percent higher at 5,237.06 points, while the German DAX was ruling 0.42 percent up at 6,030.11 points.
The French CAC 40 was trading 0.94 percent higher at 3,559.64 points.