Mumbai, July 29 (IANS) Indian equities markets closed the July future series on a dull note Thursday with a benchmark index ending a meagre 39 points up from its previous close.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,961.58 points, closed at 17,992 points, 34.63 points or 0.19 percent up from its previous close at 17,957.37 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty closed slightly higher up 0.26 percent at 5,411.7 points.
Broader markets indices were also flat with the BSE midcap index 0.22 percent up, while the BSE smallcap index ended 0.17 percent lower.
PSU, banking and FMCG scrips were on the rise, while energy and telecom stocks saw some selling.
The market breadth was mixed, with 1,410 scrips advancing, compared to 1,476 stocks declining, and 132 remaining unchanged.
Among the gainers on the Sensex were HDFC Bank, up 2.75 percent at Rs.2,974.80; Hindalco Industries, up 1.96 percent at Rs.160.90; ICICI Bank, up 1.91 percent at Rs.926.50; and Tata Motors, up 1.61 percent at Rs.865.70.
Among the major losers were Reliance Communications, down 2.1 percent at Rs.181.65; Bharti Airtel, down 1.28 percent at Rs.316.95; Jindal Steel, down 1.22 percent at Rs.622.40, and Reliance Infra, down 1.17 percent at Rs.1,130.90.
Reliance Industries, down 1.03 percent, also added to the drag in the Sensex.
Other Asian markets were in a slump as profit booking picked up speed after a downbeat forecast by the US Federal Reserve on the American economy.
The Japanese Nikkei closed 0.59 percent lower at 9,696.02 points, while the South Korean Kospi ended 0.15 percent down at 1,770.88 points.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was flat at 21,093.82 points, while the Chinese Shanghai Composite index shut shop 0.55 percent higher at 2,648.12 points.
European markets too opened on a sluggish note, but picked up pace after a slew of robust corporate earning results.
The FTSE was trading 0.86 percent higher at 5,365.61 points, while the German DAX was ruling 0.68 percent up at 6,221.22 points.
The French CAC 40 was up 0.67 percent at 3,694.96 points.
