Equities close flat, Nifty touches 52-week high

Indian equities markets on Thursday provisionally closed on a flat-to-positive note, with the telecom sector stocks witnessing healthy buying following a major acquisition announcement by telecom major Bharti Airtel.

Despite a volatile trade session on the back of derivatives expiry, the benchmark index Nifty touched its 52-week high during the intra-day trade.

The key indices pared most of their initial gains to close marginally in the green, as healthy buying was witnessed in IT, Teck (technology, media and entertainment) and consumer durables stocks.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) rose by 12.60 points or 0.14 per cent to 8,939.50 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 28,927.67 points, provisionally closed at 28,892.97 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- up 28.26 points or 0.10 per cent, from the previous close at 28,864.71 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 29,065.31 points and a low of 28,860.46 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bulls -- 1,315 advances and 1,283 declines.

On Wednesday, the benchmark indices were lifted by healthy global cues, an exponential rise in Reliance Industries (RIL) stock prices, and buying support in the oil and gas sector.

The NSE Nifty rose by 19.05 points or 0.21 per cent to close at 8,926.90 points, and the BSE Sensex was up 103.12 points or 0.36 per cent at 28,864.71 points.

--IANS

ppg/vt