Thursday, 28 February 2008

Indices end flat ahead of union budget

Equities erased most gains to end flat on Thursday as positive data from the pre-budget economic survey was overshadowed by poor global cues.

Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensex closed at 17,866.61, up 40.62 points or 0.23 per cent. It touched a high of 17,921.51 and low of 17,690.16.

National Stock Exchange’s Sensex closed at 5,297.40, up 29 points or 0.55 per cent. It touched a high of 5,302.85 and low of 5,227.15.

BSE Midcap Index ended 0.06 per cent lower at 7,719.19 and BSE Smallcap Index closed at 7,719.19.

While buying was seen in metals and auto stocks, realty and oil stocks remained laggard.

Biggest Sensex gainers were Hindalco Industries (up 4.31%), Mahindra& Mahindra (3.7%), Bajaj Auto (3.61%), BHEL (3.41%), HDFC (3.38%), Cipla (2.48%) and Wipro (2.25%).

Reliance Energy (down 2.41%), DLF (2.38%), Reliance Industries (1.91%), Ambuja Cements (1.38%), Infosys Technologies (1.32%) and State Bank of India (1.18%) were the losers.

Market breadth was negative with 1,423 declines against 1,298 advances.