Sensex ends flat, IT stocks down

A benchmark index of Indian equities markets ended Monday's trade flat, as information technology (IT) stocks fell.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,915.76 points, closed at 20,852.64 points (provisional), down 30.25 points or 0.14 percent from the previous day's close at 20,882.89 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 20,970.92 points and a low of 20,768.99 points in intra-day trade.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also closed flat. It closed at 6,194.65 points (provisionally), up 5.30 points or 0.09 percent.

Heavy buying pressure was observed in information technology (IT), fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and technology, entertainment and media stocks.

However, healthy buying was observed in capital goods, metal and automobile sectors.

The S&P BSE IT index lost 98.01 points, while FMCG index was down 97.99 points and the TECk index was lower by 41.85 points.

However, capital goods index was up 340.50 points, followed by metal index which gained 144.74 points and automobile index which ended the day's trade 81.15 points up.