MUMBAI: The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today touched a five-week high of 18,736.97 before ending flat due to profit booking amid firm global trends. Tracking rally in Asian stocks, the 30-share barometer opened firm and touched a five-week high of 18,736.97 points.
Later, profit booking at existing higher levels, however, pulled the index down to 18,486.45 points at close, a fall of mere 3.31 points.
"After four straight days of solid gains, the Indian markets ended flat on Friday as investors decided to take a pause after the post-Budget rally," IIFL Head of Research (India Private Clients) Amar Ambani said.
The Sensex had rallied by 857.35 points, or 4.86 per cent in the last four straight sessions.
The National Stock Exchange 50-issue Nifty also finished nearly stable but survived to close in positive terrain at 5,538.75 points from yesterday's close of 5,536.20.
Brokers attributed early rise to hopes of financial sector reforms as the government yesterday cleared the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2011.
Despite strong global cues, operators as well as retail investors preferred to book profits on worries over spiralling global crude oil prices which were trading above USD 102 a barrel in London today.
Capital goods stocks were at the receiving end while some of the banking and auto stocks attracted good buying support.
Among the Sensex scrips, L&T dipped by 3.08 per cent, Jaipra Asso by 2.04 per cent, BHEL by 1.94 per cent, TCS by 1.37 per cent, Bharti Airtel by 1.19 per cent, Maruti Suzuki by 1.09 per cent and Tata Steel by 0.93 per cent.
However, Tata Power rose by 2.27 per cent, Hero Honda by 2.15 per cent, Bajaj Auto by 2.00 per cent, HDFC by 1.63 per cent, REL Infra by 1.38 per cent, Jindal Steel by 1.27 per cent, Infosys Tech by 1.23 per cent and HDFC Bk by 1.16 pct.
Amongst sectoral indices, the BSE-CG tumbled by 2.06 per cent while the Bankex firmed up by 0.53 per cent and the BSE-Auto by 0.44 per cent.
The total market breadth was negative as 1,484 stocks closed with losses against 1,391 that finished with gains on the BSE. The total market turnover dropped to Rs 3,165.97 crore from Rs 3,833.73 crore yesterday. SBI topped the list of highest traded securities with a turnover of Rs 175.81 crore.
Asian shares closed higher helped by solid overnight gains on Wall Street. The key benchmark indices from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan closed higher between 0.53 per cent and 1.73 per cent.
European markets too were trading higher on rally on Wall Street yesterday following strong economic data. The CAC was up by 0.56 per cent, the DAX by 0.76 per cent and the FTSE by 0.54 per cent.
