Sensex ends flat amid lackluster session

The Indian stock markets started off the week on a quite note. It was another day of lackluster trading; the NSE Nifty was stuck in a 20 points narrow trading range and was unable to find any specific direction throughout the day ahead of the quarterly GDP numbers to be announced tomorrow.

Market sentiment got a boost after reports stated that monsoon hit Kerala two days ahead of schedule. Besides the GDP data, monthly auto sales, manufacturing PMI and exports figures during the course of the week also would play important market determinants.

Globally, The US markets ended with modest gains while the Asian markets were a bit lackluster. European stocks although were trading with a slight positive bias. Investors would keep eye on China’s manufacturing PMI and US jobs data. Movement in the dollar and commodities will also be watched.

"Technically, 5520 levels on the NSE Nifty might act as a critical resistance on the breach of which the Nifty would surge towards the 5600 levels in the coming days, all eyes would be on the GDP numbers to be released tomorrow" says Amar Ambani, Head of Research (India Private Clients) - IIFL.

The BSE Sensex ended at 18,232 shedding 34 points. It had earlier touched a day's high of 18,380 and a day's low of 18,199. It opened at 18,309. While, the NSE Nifty closed flat at 5,473.

Among the BSE sectoral indices, the BSE Auto index was the top loser, the index lost 1.5% followed by BSE Oil & Gas index lost 0.7%, while, BSE Capital Goods index slipped 0.4%.

Among the major gainers were, BSE Pharma index up 2.2%, BSE Consumer Durables index up 2% and Realty index was up 1.6%. Even the BSE Mid-Cap index and BSE Small-Cap index ended higher by 0.8% and 0.65% respectively.

Outside the index, the major gainers were Patni, Nalco, Godrej Cons, Sintex and Aditya Birla. Among the major loses were United Phos, Mphasis, Apollo Tyres, Marico and Indian Bank.