Sensex closes flat in choppy trade

In choppy and lacklustre trade on Friday, a benchmark index for Indian equities markets closed flat at 16,217.82 points as investors booked profit after the rally following a hike in petrol prices two days ago. The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,213.24 points closed at 16,217.82 points, down 0.03 per cent or 4.48 points from its previous close of 16,222.30 points. The Sensex touched a high of 16,273.48 points and a low of 16,118.35 in intra-day trade. The BSE midcap index rose 25.73 points while the smallcap index declined 33.49 points. The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange closed 0.02 per cent lower at 4,920.40 points. Brokers and analysts said the markets, which opened on weak Asian cues, made some gains after the rupee recovered further against the dollar, but fresh selling towards the close of trading, especially in FMCG scrips, eroded the gains. The FMCG index fell 0.46 per cent or 21.14 points, while the consumer durables index was down 0.28 per cent or 17.82 points. The healthcare index also fell 0.13 per cent or 8.62 points. However, some buying was seen in metal, capital goods and realty stocks. By / Gulf Today