Markets trading flat

The markets continued to trade rangebound in the noon session, with the Sensex up 57 points at 18,050, and the Nifty added 5,404 up 17 points.

Amongst the Sensex gainers, ICICI Bank at Rs 1,025 and Larsen & Toubro at Rs 1,642 added 2% each, followed by HDFC at Rs 656 up 1%.

DLF was the top loser on the BSE benchmark off nearly 3% at Rs 217, while Hindalco Industries at Rs 184 and Reliance Infra at Rs 538 declined 2% each.

The broader markets were flat. The Mid-cap index was at 6,670, while the Small-cap index was at 8,051.

In the sectoral space, the Bankex led the sectoral indices chart up 1% at 11,954, followed by the Capital Goods index at 12,946, and the Consumer Durables index at 6,353, both up 1%.

With 1,204 advances versus 1,301 declines, the market breadth was negative.
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(Updated at 1140 hrs)

The markets exhibited range-bound trade in the late morning session, and the Sensex added 54 points at 18,047, while the Nifty added 14 points at 5,401.

ICICI Bank was the top gainer on the Sensex up 2% at Rs 1,024, followed by Larsen & Toubro at Rs 1,637 also up 2%, and Cipla at Rs 314 up 1%.

DLF was the top loser on the Sensex off 2% at rs 218, while Hindalco Industries at Rs 185 also declined 2% and Reliance Infra shed 1% at Rs 540.

The broader markets were flat; the Mid-cap index was at 6,665, while the Small-cap index was at 8,054.

Amongst the sectoral indices, the Capital Goods counter was the top gainer at 12,938 up 1%, followed by the Bankex at 11,923 and the Consumer Durables index at 6,353, both up 1% each.

The Realty index was the worst off in the sectoral space, as it declined more than 1% to 2,001, while the Metal counter let off nearly 1% at 14,629.

Of the 2,416 shares traded on the BSE so far, 1,182 advanced, while 1,126 declined, amking the market breadth marginally positive.