Sensex ends flat, broader markets soar

By IANS,

Mumbai : Benchmark indices of the Indian equities markets ended flat on a weekly basis, while broader markets logged substantial gains amid political excitement across the country as social activist Anna Hazare led thousands of protestors in an agitation against corruption.


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The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) ended the week flat at 19,451.45 points, up 31.06 points from the previous week’s close of 19,420.39 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty also ended the week on a lacklustre note, closing about 16 points lower at 5,842 points Friday.

However, broader markets ended with handsome gains, helped by rising capital goods, consumer durables and realty stocks. The BSE midcap index closed 2.73 percent higher, while the BSE smallcap index moved up 4.96 percent.

Major gainers on the Sensex for the week were: BHEL, up 6.1 percent at Rs.2,200.75; Hero Honda, up 4 percent at Rs.1,663.50; M&M, up 3.8 percent at Rs.727.75 and ACC, up 3.6 percent at Rs.1,117.70.

Major losers included NTPC, down 4.8 percent at Rs.183.65; DLF, down 2.8 percent at Rs.259.45; Hindustan Unilever, down 2.7 percent at Rs.276.35 and Wipro, down 2.5 percent at Rs.465.45.

Among other global bourses, Asian markets ended the week with gains.

For the week, the Japanese Nikkei average closed 0.61 percent higher at 9,768.08 points.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 2.5 percent to 24,396.07 points, while China’s Shanghai Composite moved up 2.11 percent at 3,030.02 points Friday.

Oil prices, which shot up to a 30-year high had its impact on the US markets as the US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the week flat at 12,380.05 points, while the S&P 500 and the technology heavy Nasdaq closed with moderate losses.

Among the European markets, Britain’s FTSE rose 0.76 percent at 6,055.75 points and the German DAX closed nearly 0.52 percent higher at 7,217.02 points Friday.

The French CAC 40 moved up a modest 0.18 percent to 4,061.91 points.

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