By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index for Indian equities Wednesday gave up its intra-day gains to end trade on a flat note, though buying took place in midcap and small scrips.
The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,458.76 points, ended at 17,472.56 points, up 11.98 points or 0.07 percent from its previous close at 17,460.58 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty closed at 5,244.9 points against the previous close at 5,230.1 points, a gain of 0.28 percent or 14.80 points.
Broader market indices were also in the green, with the BSE midcap index closing 0.96 percent and the BSE small cap index ending 1.38 percent higher.
Realty and banking scrips saw gains, while capital goods and energy stocks came under selling pressure.
Top gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex were Tata Motors, up 2.17 percent at Rs.809.15; Hindustan Unilever, up 2.06 percent at Rs.232.50; ICICI Bank, up 2.01 percent at Rs.952.40; and Jai prakash Associates, up 2.01 percent at Rs.150.05.
Major losers included Sun Pharma, down 2.87 percent at Rs.1,748.10; BHEL, down 1.4 percent at Rs.2,462.65; L&T, down 0.95 percent at Rs.1,573.50; and RIL, down 0.91 percent at Rs.1,054.20.
According to data with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors were net buyers Wednesday, having bought scrips worth $7.29 million.
Most other Asian markets closed with gains.
While the Japanese Nikkei shut shop with a 1.74 percent gain at 11,090.05 points, the South Korean Kospi closed 1.72 percent up at 1,747.58 points.
The Chinese Shanghai composite index too was up 1.8 percent at 3,033.28 points. However, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng ended 0.52 percent lower at 21,510.93 points.
European markets were in the red at the time of closing bell here.
The FTSE 100, the benchmark index of the London Stock Exchange, was ruling at 5,731.32 points, down 0.91 percent, while its German peer, DAX, was trading 0.34 percent lower at 6,243.15 points.
The French CAC 40 index was also ruling in the negative at 3,994.18 points, down 0.81 percent.