Equities close marginally in the green; IT, banks cap gains

Key Indian equity indices provisionally closed flat-to-positive on Monday, with healthy buying in metals, oil and gas, and auto stocks.

Selling pressure in IT, banking and tech stocks, coupled with broadly negative global cues, trimmed gains, said market observers.

The wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) rose by 15.15 points or 0.15 per cent to provisionally close (at 3.30 p.m.) at 10,298.75 points.

The barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 33,365.84 points, closed at 33,359.90 points -- up 17.10 points or 0.05 per cent -- from Friday's close.

The Sensex touched a high of 33,449.53 points and a low of 33,288.21 points during intra-day trade.

However, the BSE market breadth was bullish -- 1,623 advances and 1,028 declines.

ICICI Bank, Cipla, State Bank of India (SBI), Dr. Reddy's Lab and Infosys were among the top laggards on the BSE market breadth, while Coal India, NTPC, Bajaj Auto and Reliance Industries closed with gains.

On Friday, the benchmark indices closed in the green riding on a sovereign ratings upgrade of the Indian government's bonds by US credit rating agency Moody's.

The NSE Nifty50 rose by 68.85 points, or 0.67 per cent, to close at 10,283.60 points, while the BSE Sensex closed at 33,342.80 points -- up 235.98 points or 0.71 per cent.

--IANS

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