Sensex trades flat; IT index firm

The Sensex  touched a high of 16,943 and is now flat at 16,931, up 18 points.

The BSE IT and the metal indices have advanced 1% each at 5,099 and 16,516, respectively.The realty index on the other hand has slipped 1% at 3,770.

Hindalco, TCS and Tata Steel have advanced 2% each at Rs 146, Rs 727 and Rs 567, respectively.

Wipro, BHEL and Mahindra & Mahindra have added over 1.5% each at Rs 683, Rs 2,372 and Rs 1,057, respectively.

Maruti, Tata Power, HDFC, SBI and Larsen & Toubro have declined 0.5% each.

The market breadth is positive, out of 2,264 shares traded, 1,558 have advanced and 639 have declined so far on the BSE.