Sensex ends up 33.31 pts

The Sensex after a good start ended on a flat note led by metal and banking stocks, while realty and consumer durables were reeling under pressure. It opened firm with a gain of 112.37 points, at 16,295.92 on Thursday on strong global cues. It continued to trade in the positive terrain on sustained buying interest seen in frontliners and later witnessed profit booking in select stocks by shedding some of its gains. Further the benchmark regained its strength touching a high of 16,434.77. During fag end of the day, half an hour before the close, the index lost steam and slipped into the negative territory only to bounce back into the green at close.

BSE Midcap and Smallcap index dipped 0.17% and 0.77% respectively.

On sectoral front, BSE Metal and Bankex rose over 1% each, Realty dropped 2.26%, Consumer durables dipped 1.58%.

European stocks climbed after Texas Instruments raised its forecasts and China Yurun Food Group reported higher earnings. UK`s benchmark index FTSE 100 declined 29.44 points, or 0.60%, to trade at 4,974.25. French benchmark index CAC 40 dipped 17.51 points, or 0.47%, to trade at 3,690.88. Germany`s benchmark index DAX down by 5.93 points, or 0.10%, to trade at 5,568.15. (4.20 pm)

The Sensex ended the day with a gain of 33.31 points, or 0.21% at 16,216.86 after touching a high of 16,434.77 and a low of 16,166.42. The broad-based NSE Nifty gained 5.15 points, or 0.11% at 4,819.40 after hitting a high of 4,889.05 and a low of 4,807.90.

Major gainers in the 30-share index were ICICI Bank (3.12%), Sterlite Industries (India) (2.51%), Tata Steel (2.27%), Infosys Technologies (1.92%), Bharti Airtel (1.81%), and Tata Motors (1.21%).

On the other hand, DLF (2.77%), Hero Honda Motors (2.45%), Jaiprakash Associates (2.25%), Hindalco Industries (2.05%), Mahindra & Mahindra (1.77%), and Maruti Suzuki India (1.44%) were the major losers in the Sensex.

Overall market breadth was negative. Out of the total 2,880 stocks traded at BSE, 1,093 advanced, 1,710 declined while 77 remained unchanged.