By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Monday managed to pull up from the intra-day lows and close flat in spite of being weighed down by blue chip firm Reliance Industries. Global cues were dull too.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,242.25 points, closed at 18,266.03 points — down 2.51 points or 0.01 percent from its previous close at 18,268.54 points.
Heavy weight scrip Reliance Industries fell 2.4 percent to an intra-day low, and closed with a 1.95 percent loss at Rs.926.50.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also ended lacklustre at 5,482.8 points, down 0.05 percent.
Broader markets nudged higher with the BSE midcap index up 0.28 percent and the BSE smallcap index up 0.3 percent.
The market breadth was tilted towards the positive with 1,438 stocks advancing, 1,379 on the decline and 122 remaining unchanged.
Among gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex wewr: NTPC, up 2.27 percent at Rs.180.10; Cipla, up 2.05 percent at Rs.338.90; RCom, up 1.78 percent at Rs.94.15; and Bajaj Auto, up 1.25 percent at Rs.1,342.10.
The losers were Hindalco, down 2.22 percent at Rs.180.35; RIL, down 1.84 percent at Rs.926.65; Tata Steel, down 1.12 percent at Rs.562.80; and TCS, down 1.1 percent at Rs.1,175.60.
According to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India, foreign institutional investors sold scrips worth $105.12 million Monday.
Asian markets ended dull.
The Nikkei of the Japanese stock exchange closed 0.7 percent down at 9,448.21 points, while the Chinese Shanghai composite index shed 0.18 percent to end at 2,700.38 points.
The Hang Seng of the Hong Kong stock exchange moved up 0.39 percent to close at 22,508.08 points.
Amid concerns of an economic slowdown in the US, European markets were ruling tepid as well.
Britain’s FTSE was ruling 0.29 percent up at 5,782.71 points.
Around midday, the French CAC 40 was trading flat at 3,812.7 poins, while the German DAX was almost unchanged from its previous close.