Sensex falls off highs, closes flat (Roundup)

MUMBAI - A key Indian equities index gave up its gains Tuesday to close flat, just 0.24 percent higher than its previous close, even as broader indices managed sizeable gains.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened at 17,388.67 points and closed at 17,395.52 points, up 40.95 points or 0.24 percent from its previous close at 17,360.61 points.

It had risen over 125 points to 17,486.05 points in the last hour of trade.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended at 5,187.95 points against the previous close at 5,178.4 points, a gain of 0.18 percent.

Broader market indices did better with the BSE midcap index ruling 0.5 percent up and the BSE small cap index 1.16 percent higher.

The market breadth was tilted towards the positive, with 1,859 scrips advancing, 964 declining and 79 remaining unchanged.

Among major gainers at this time were Reliance Infra, up 2.85 percent at Rs.1,131.50; Hindalco, up 2.73 percent at Rs.162.05; ICICI Bank, up 1.73 percent at Rs.877.65; and Bharti Airtel, up 1.51 percent at Rs.325.75.

Among the losers were Wipro, down 1.85 percent at Rs.681.20; Sun Pharma, down 1.64 percent at Rs.1,537.95; DLF, down 1.36 percent at Rs.365.25; and ONGC, down 0.96 percent at Rs.1,186.25.

Data with markets watchdog Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) showed that foreign funds were net buyers Tuesday, having bought scrips worth $173.51 million.

Other Asian markets were also flat.

A key Japanese index, the Nikkei, closed 0.04 percent or 3.83 points up at 10,638.06 points with many stocks losing strength after the recent rally.

In China, the Shanghai composite index ended 0.72 percent higher at 3,211.76 points, with investors gaining some confidence about a better corporate performance.

The Kospi, the benchmark index of the Korean Stock Exchange, was down 0.78 percent at 1,672.48 points.

The Hang Seng, a benchmark index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, was ruling higher at 21,499.44 points or 0.09 percent up.

European markets, which opened on a strong note encouraged by brisk Christmas sales, went quiet.

The FTSE 100 index, benchmark index of the London Stock Exchange, was ruling 0.46 percent up at 5,427.11 points, after hitting a 15-month high.

The French index, CAC 40, was 0.12 percent up at 3,917.09 points, while its German peer DAX was ruling 0.04 percent higher at 6,005.41 points.