Trading flat at Indian markets

Wednesday, 24 June 2009, 20:30 IST
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Mumbai: Trading at Indian equities markets was lacklustre, with a key index hovering around its last closing figure, a little after Wednesday noon. Around 12.28 p.m., the benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened higher at 14,376.82 points was ruling at 14,346.53 points, 22.52 points or a mere 0.16 percent above Tuesday's close. Around the same time, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was ruling in the green, 0.37 percent up at 4,262.9 points. Companies with lower market capitalisation were doing better, with the BSE midcap index trading 1.55 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index moving up 1.57 percent. Thanks to buying interest in such smaller market cap companies, the market breadth was quite positive: 1,466 stocks advanced and 781 declined. Seventy-one remained unchanged. Of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE, those for healthcare, realty and capital goods scrips were ruling at the top, while banking, metal, and FMCG stocks came under selling pressure. Among gainers on the Sensex at this time were Jaiprakash Associates, up 2.93 percent at 207.20; Sun Pharma, up 2.88 percent at 1,318; ONGC, up 1.9 percent at 1,046; and Grasim, up 1.86 percent at 2,270. Sensex's losers included Sterlite, down 2.65 percent at 561.90; ICICI Bank, down 2.22 percent at 682; HDFC, down 1.6 percent at 2,317.80; and M&M, down 1.02 percent at 696.70. Other Asian markets were also in the green, with the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo stock exchange, rising 40.71 points to end Wednesday's trade at 9,590.32 points. The Hang Seng, a primary index of the Hong Kong stock exchange, was similarly up and ruling at 17,771.75 points, an increase of 233.38 points over its previous close.
Source: IANS