By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets was ruling flat around Wednesday noon, 26 points higher after a brief slip into negative terrain even as major Asian markets were in a slump.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,486.69 points, was at 17,512.1 points, up 26.04 points or 0.14 percent from its previous close at 17,486.06 points.
Around the same time, at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was at 5,229.75 points, against the previous close at 5,225.65 points, a gain of 0.08 percent.
Broader markets were also dull, with the BSE midcap index up 0.1 percent and the BSE small cap index trading 0.4 percent higher.
The market breadth was negative, with 1,333 stocks advancing, compared to 1,443 on the decline, and 83 remaining unchanged.
Among the major gainers were Bharti Airtel, up 2.81 percent at Rs.329; ICICI Bank, up 1.47 percent at Rs.876.05; Tata Steel, up 1.22 percent at Rs.645.55; and NTPC, up 1.14 percent at Rs.230.35.
Top losers included Jaiprakash Associates, down 2.28 percent at Rs.156.5; HDFC Bank, down 1.73 percent at Rs.1,747.60; Sterlite Industries, down 1.51 percent at Rs.856; and Wipro, down 1.5 percent at Rs.726.40.
Other Asian markets were in the red, with the benchmark Japanese index, Nikkei, trading 0.25 percent lower at 10,737.52 points.
The Hang Seng of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange was 2.06 percent lower at 21,231.44 points, while the Korean Kospi was flat at 1,714.38, up 0.24 percent.
The Chinese Shanghai composite index was down 2.79 percent at 3,150.56 points.