Sensex closes flat; capital goods index down (Roundup)

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Wednesday's trade flat - only 38 points or 0.15 percent up - even as capital goods, consumer durables and bank stocks fell.

However, healthy buying was observed in fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), healthcare and information technology (IT) sectors.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 25,861.47 points, closed at 25,918.95 points, up 38.18 points or 0.15 percent from the previous day's close at 25,880.77 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 25,972.62 points and a low of 25,791.79 points in intra-day trade.

The S&P BSE capital goods index lost 382.77 points, consumer durables index plunged by 189.18 points, bankex went down by 170.67 points, metal index was lower by 161.68 points and realty index slipped 97.99 points.

However, FMCG index gained 157.56 points, healthcare index was up 92.34 points and IT index rose 74.66 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also closed trade flat. It closed 12.50 points or 0.16 percent up at 7,739.55 points.

The major Sensex gainers were: ITC, up 2.72 percent at Rs.356.45; Hindustan Unilever, up 2.49 percent at Rs.718.40; HDFC, up 2.26 percent at Rs.1,140.95; Sun Pharma, up 2.09 percent at Rs.800.25; and Wipro, up 0.98 percent at Rs.548.95.

The losers were: BHEL, down 6.57 percent at Rs.209; Coal India, down 3.18 percent at Rs.352.75, Hindalco Inds, down 3.04 percent at Rs.180, Tata Power, down 2.64 percent at Rs.88.60; and State Bank of India (SBI), down 2.50 percent at Rs.2,368.65.

Among the Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei went up by 0.35 percent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was 0.81 percent points higher, while China's Shanghai Composite Index, higher by 0.06 percent.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was slightly up by 0.05 percent, Germany's DAX Index gained 0.96 percent and France's CAC 40 increased by 0.61 percent.