Sensex closes flat; bank stocks up (Roundup)

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Monday's trade flat, tracking the SGX Nifty and international global cues.

Sentiments were bearish as the markets opened to last Friday's weak industrial output numbers and a call for decrease in the interest rates following a decline in retail inflation.

On Friday, the shares fell following mixed global cues and amid apprehensions that an improving US economy may fuel a dollar rally and limit capital inflows.

The index closed 31 points or 0.11 percent lower at 27,319.56 points as no positive domestic trigger upheld sentiments.

All sector-based indices, except banking, of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) were either in negative or flat.

Heavy selling was observed in consumer durables, information technology (IT) and oil and gas.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 27,136.28 points, closed trade at 27,319.56 points, down 31.12 points or 0.11 percent from the previous day's close at 27,350.68 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 27,392.18 points and a low of 27,105.04 points in the intra-day trade.

The S&P BSE bank index gained 73.08 points, while IT was down 200.09 points, consumer durables fell 193.33 points, and capital goods slipped 134.23 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed trade 4.50 points or 0.05 percent down at 8,219.60 points.

The major Sensex gainers were: HDFC, up 4.94 percent at Rs.1,123.10; Coal India, up 3.26 percent at Rs.377.25; ONGC, up 1.77 percent at Rs.342.90; HDFC Bank, up 0.99 percent at Rs.941.55; and BHEL, up 0.71 percent at Rs.248.75.

The major Sensex losers were: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), down 3.78 percent at Rs.2,362.80; Sesa Sterlite, down 2.39 percent at Rs.210.40; Axis Bank, down 1.30 percent at Rs.476.85; Cipla, down 1.27 percent at Rs.631.70; and Tata Motors, down 1.24 percent at Rs.493.80.