F&O expiry: Sensex ends choppy trade on flat note, gains 6% in Aug series

Stock market updates: Profit-booking in metals, PSBs, and select heavyweights like Bharti Airtel, Maruti Suzuki, Infosys, and HDFC Bank was countered by gains in Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank, HDFC, and HUL, resulting in a flat close on the bourses on Thursday. However, volatility ran high through the day as investors adjusted their portfolios amid F&O expiry of the August series.

By close, the S&P BSE Sensex was parked at 55,949 levels, up 5 points while the Nifty50 stood at 16,637, up 2 points. The broader markets, meanwhile, outran the frontline indices for the third consecutive day. Both, the BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices rose 0.3 per cent each.

Sectorally, the metals pack bled the most, down 1.3 per cent, followed by the PSB Index (down 0.8 per cent). On the upside, the Nifty FMCG index rose 0.58 per cent.