Market benchmark Nifty ended on a flat note today following good buying mainly in PSU Bank, Media, Pharma and IT counters amid higher global cues.
Selling in auto, metal and energy stocks restricted the gains.
Investors are on a wait-and-watch mode ahead of RBI policy next week and assembly elections in five states, starting with Punjab tomorrow.
Overseas, European shares edged higher ahead of non-farm payrolls data in the US and a European summit where leaders are likely to discuss the new US administration.
Most Asian stocks edged higher as investors await the outcome of the key US monthly jobs report that will set the tone for the Federal Reserve's policy outlook.
The NSE 50-share Nifty index opened slightly higher at 8,735.15 and hovered between 8,748.25 and 8,707.75 before ending at 8,740.95, a marginal fall of 6.70 points, or 0.10 per cent.
It saw an intra-day movement of about 40.50 points.
On the sectoral front, PSU Bank rose by 2.91 per cent, Media 2.27 per cent, Pharma 1.47 per cent, IT 1.01 per cent, Realty 0.87 per cent and Bank 0.63 per cent.
However, Auto fell 0.83 per cent, Metal 0.60 per cent, Energy 0.45 per cent and FMCG 0.22 per cent.
Major index gainers were Bank Of Baroda (4.95 per cent), Tech Mahindra (4.20 per cent), Cipla (4.03 per cent), Bhel (2.66 per cent), Bharti Infratel (2.51 per cent) and Coal India (1.89 per cent).
However, Bosch Ltd fell 2.30 per cent, followed by Zee (2.28 per cent), Eicher Motor (1.65 per cent), Tata Motors DVR (1.69 per cent) and Tata Motors (1.65 per cent).
A total of 1,000 scrips advanced, 636 declined, while 73 remained unchanged. Total securities that hit their price bands were 119.
Turnover in the cash segment fell to Rs 26,735.93 crore from Rs 26,848.21 crore yesterday.
A total of 16,394.41 lakh shares changed hands in 97,858,87 trades. The market capitalisation of NSE stood at Rs 11,350,845.49 crore.
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