Sensex flat as traders take a breather after rally (Roundup)
February 16th, 2012 - 7:16 pm ICT by IANS
Mumbai, Feb 16 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities Thursday closed flat as traders took a breather after the three-day rally during the week and booked profits in blue-chip scrips.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,163.05 points, closed at 18,153.99 points, 48.42 points or 0.27 percent down from its previous close at 18,202.41 points.
The Sensex managed to stay above the 18,000-mark, which it breached Wednesday for the first time in six months.
The 50-scrip S&P; CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange similarly closed dull at 5,521.95 points, down 10 points or 0.18 percent from its previous close.
Broader markets too closed flat, with the BSE 500 index ending almost unchanged. But the BSE midcap index rose 1.04 percent while the BSE smallcap index gained 0.96 percent.
As per the sectoral indices on the BSE, power, realty and capital goods stocks were on the rise.
Overseas funds, which have been the main catalyst for the dramatic rise in Indian equities in 2012, continued with their buying spree.
According to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors have put in $4.4 billion since the start of the year, having bought equities worth $2.03 billion in January and $2.37 billion till Wednesday during February.
Prominent gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex included Hero MotoCorp, up 4.57 percent at Rs.2,188.65; SBI, up 4.38 percent at Rs.2,349.05; Maruti Suzuki, up 4.1 percent at Rs.1,357.20 and Infosys, up 1.26 percent at Rs.2,903.35.
Major losers included Coal India, down 5.44 percent at Rs.321; Hindalco, down 4.71 percent at Rs.154.65; Tata Motors, down 3.67 percent at Rs.275.90 and RIL, down 2.86 percent at Rs.812.15.
The market breadth was positive with 1,640 stocks advancing, 1,292 on the decline and 112 unchanged.
Asian markets fell as investors were uneasy with the bailout package for Greece getting delayed. Indications from Euro zone countries were that they had to wait till the country held elections in April.
The Japanese Nikkei fell 0.24 percent to close at 9,238.1 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed 0.41 percent lower at 21,277.28 points.
The Chinese Shanghai Composite index, also shed 0.42 percent to end at 2,356.86 points.
European markets were ruling lower.
Britain’s FTSE 100 was down 0.61 percent at 5,856.32 points. The German DAX was trading 0.84 percent lower at 6,701.44 points.
The French CAC 40 was trading 0.38 percent down at 3,377.6 points.
- Sensex marginally down at 16,878 points - May 08, 2012
- Sensex closes flat on weak rupee (Lead) - May 17, 2012
- Sensex continues to trade lacklustre, RIL soars (Lead) - Jan 18, 2012
- Sensex slumps 24 percent in 2011 (Roundup) - Dec 30, 2011
- Sensex closes 284 points lower (Second Lead) - Feb 22, 2012
- Sensex closes 204 points down amid negative global cues (Roundup) - Aug 02, 2011
- Ahead of monetary policy review, Sensex closes dull - Dec 15, 2011
- Sensex falls 193.40 points, banking stocks slump (Lead) - May 07, 2012
- Sensex edges lower for the second day in choppy trade (Roundup) - Feb 23, 2012
- Sensex rallies past 18,000, closes 353 points up (Roundup) - Feb 15, 2012
- Sensex plunges 425 points to end below 16,000 points - Nov 21, 2011
- Sensex tanks 324 points in noon trade - May 16, 2012
- Sensex eases 75 points up, realty, energy scrips rise (Roundup) - Jun 07, 2011
- Rupee weighs on market, Sensex closes 156 points lower (Lead) - May 22, 2012
- Sensex closes 67 points down as bearish mood prevails (Roundup) - May 09, 2012
Tags: asian markets, bailout package, benchmark index, bombay stock exchange, capital goods, coal india, dramatic rise, exchange board, foreign institutional investors, hindalco, market breadth, midcap index, national stock exchange, ril, rs 2, sectoral indices, securities and exchange board of india, sensitive index, smallcap index, tata motors