Markets continue to trade flat

Auto, realty lead gains

Flat trades continued in mid-morning trades with the Sensex gaining 57 points at 19,976. Nifty was up 9 points at 6,028.

U.S. stocks closed mixed Thursday, with shares of Apple weighing on the Nasdaq, as investors focused on the latest corporate results and economic data. The Dow added 0.33% at 13,825.

Japanese stocks soared on Friday, boosted by fresh multiyear lows for the yen, while the rest of Asia looked set to end the week on a less positive note. Nikkei added 2% to 10,832. Kospi, Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite slipped half a per cent each.

BSE auto index has gained 0.8% at 10,919 and is leading the sectoral pack. Consumer durables, healthcare and capital goods stocks are also in the green. However, weakness can be seen in BSE metal index which is down 0.25% at 10,409.

Broader markets have rebounded and are trading marginally higher. BSE mid-cap index is up 0.3% at 6,867. Small-caps are flat at 7,073.

Larsen & Toubro is up half a per cent at Rs 1,594. CLSA has upgraded the stock to "outperform" from "underperform", citing favourable policies from the government and expected interest cuts would be reflected in the company's earnings by the second half of fiscal 2013/14.

Maruti Suzuki India is trading higher by 2% at Rs 1,562 ahead of the third quarter results which are due later in the day today. According to an estimate of analysts the company's net profit in Q3 is likely to double to Rs 496 crore, against a net profit of Rs 206 crore in the corresponding quarter last fiscal.

Suzlon Energy has surged almost 5% to Rs 18.90 after the wind energy major said that the empowered group of corporate debt restructuring (CDR) cell have approved its proposal for the restructuring of its domestic debt.

Sesa Goa fell 1.07% to Rs 176.40 after consolidated net profit fell 28.2% to Rs 496.73 crore on 91% slide in total income to Rs 237 crore in Q3 December 2012 over Q3 December 2011.

Housing Development and Infrastructure rose 2.01% to Rs 76.15 on bargain hunting after the stock slumped 38.46% in the preceding four sessions to Rs 74.65 on 24 January 2013 from a recent high of Rs 121.30 on 18 January 2013.

BSE market breadth is marginally negative. Out of 2,193 stokcs traded, 1,151 stocks have declined while 941 stokcs have advanced in trades.