By IANS,
Mumbai : A key benchmark index for Indian equities markets Tuesday closed flat on what was a largely dull trading day. Broader indices nudged up a tad amid negative Asian cues.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,091.78 points, closed at 19,121.83 points, up 30.66 points or 0.16 percent from its previous close at 19,091.17 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange shut shop 0.27 percent up at 5,744.35 points.
Broader markets ended moderately up with the BSE midcap index closing 0.36 percent higher and the BSE small cap index up 0.29 percent.
FMCG, power and auto stocks were among the major losers while telecom and energy scrips rose.
Among major gainers on the Sensex were Bharti Airtel, up 2.18 percent at Rs.375.80; Reliance Communications, up 2.08 percent at Rs.107.80; L&T, up 1.62 percent at Rs.1,706.80; and HDFC Bank, up 1.4 percent at Rs.2,348.05.
The losers included Hero Honda, down 4.64 percent at Rs.1,777.20; BHEL, down 2.37 percent at Rs.2,135.60; Hindustan Unilever, down 1.2 percent at Rs.276.95; and ITC, down 1.05 percent at Rs.187.95.
The market breadth was negative with 1,389 stocks advancing, 1,476 on the decline and 116 remaining unchanged.
According to data available with market regulator SEBI, foreign institutional investors were net sellers, shedding stocks worth $178.57 million Tuesday.
Asian markets also ended in the negative.
The Japanese Nikkei average closed 1.21 percent down at 9,441.03 points, while the Shanghai composite index of the Chinese stock exchanges moved down 1.91 percent to close at 2,999.04 points.
The Hang Seng of the Hong Kong stock exchange was in the red, ending 1.3 percent lower at 23,520.62 points.
The European stock markets rose, led by autos and luxury goods scrips. They also found support from the strong euro-zone manufacturing data which turned out better than expected.
Around midday, the French CAC 40 was trading 0.75 percent higher at 3,910.53 points, while Britain’s FTSE was ruling 0.65 percent up at 5,908.43 points.
The German DAX was ruling 0.48 percent up at 7,060.85 points.