By IANS,
Mumbai: A benchmark index of Indian equities markets Monday ended flat as profit booking erased intra-day gains.
The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,038.25 points, closed flat at 19,981.13 points, down 14.38 points or 0.07 percent from its previous close at 19,966.93 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty shut shop at 5,992.25 points, down 0.55 points or 0.01 percent.
Broader markets ended in the red as selling intensified. The BSE midcap index closed 0.37 percent down, while the BSE smallcap index ended 0.9 percent lower.
Metal, energy and IT stocks rallied strongly while banking, FMCG and realty scrips saw some profit booking.
Among the gainers on the Sensex were Sterlite Industries, up 3.65 percent at Rs.171.70; Tata Steel, up 3.38 percent at Rs.634.95; Tata Motors, up 3.32 percent at Rs.1,358.50; and Jindal Steel, up 2.85 percent at Rs.699.05.
Major losers included SBI, down 3.86 percent at Rs.2,952.85; Hero Honda, down 3.2 percent at Rs.1,773.85; Reliance Communications, down 2.76 percent at Rs.135.65, and ICICI Bank, down 2.66 percent at Rs.1,150.55.
The market breadth was negative, with 1,222 stocks advancing, compared to 1,701 scrips on the decline, while 124 stocks remained unchanged.
According to data available with SEBI, foreign institutional investors bought scrips worth $120.24 million Monday.
Other Asian markets closed mixed as investor sentiments were dampened by disappointing non-farm payroll data released in the US last week.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng shut shop 0.36 percent higher at 23,237.69 points, while the Shanghai Composite index ended 0.52 percent up at 2,857.18 points.
The Japanese Nikkei closed flat, down 0.11 percent at 10,167.23 points.
European stocks too were trading subdued as traders were not willing to buy into higher positions even as US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke ruled out a double-digit dip recession.
Also dull cues from other Asian bourses dampened sentiments.
Around mid-day, Britain’s FTSE 100 was trading flat at 5,744.08 points, while the German DAX was 0.14 percent lower at 6,937.79 points.
The French CAC 40 was 0.53 percent down at 3,730.83 points.