Sensex closes flat in choppy trade

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Wednesday's trade flat, with a mere 0.36 point gain.

Profit booking -- a day after the benchmark index closed over 700 points up to touch its largest single-day gain in four years -- was cited as the reason for the day's choppy trade.

The 30-scrip S&P Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened higher at 19,999.77 points, closed (provisional) at 19,997.45, up 0.36 points from its previous close at 19,997.09 points.

The benchmark Sensex surged to a high of 20,055.53 points and a low of 19,777.63 points in the highly volatile intra-day trade.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) gained 0.28 percent or 16.40 points at 5,913.15 points.

Extreme volatility was observed in the market a day after its largest single-day rally in four years on the back of a strengthening rupee, reduction in trade deficit and easing of the Syrian crisis.