 "Markets end flat amid volatility")
The 30-share Sensex ended at 19,640 down 20 points and the 50-share Nifty ended at 5,959 up 2 points.
On the global front, the Asian markets ended higher in trades on Wednesday after global economic recovery buoyed the overall market sentiment. The prospect of a dovish new governor for the Bank of Japan sent the yen to a three-year low.
Japan's Nikkei surged to its highest level in 4-years. The index surged 4% or 417 points to close at 11,464. Shanghai Composite advanced 1 point to 2,434, Hang Seng jumped 108 points to 23,256, Taiwan Weighted gained 20 points to end at 7,906 and Straits Times ended at 3,277, up 5 points.
Back home, the rupee today strengthened by 16 paise, near four-month high, to 52.97 against the US dollar on the Interbank Foreign Exchange on sustained selling of the American currency by exporters and banks amid increased capital inflows.
On the sectoral front, BSE Realty, IT and TECk indices surged by almost 1%. However, BSE Capital Goods, Power and PSU indices declined by nearly 1% each.
The main gainers on the Sensex were JSPL, Maruti Suzuki, ITC, TCS, HDFC, Hindalco, Tata Steel, Bharti Airtel and Infosys, all surging between 1-3%.
HDFC ended higher by 1% at Rs 804 on reports that the NBFC has cut home loan rates by 10 bps.
NTPC was the top Sensex loser, lower by over 2% at Rs 152 after the government has set a floor price of Rs 145 a share for its proposed 9.5% stake sale through offer for sale (OFS). The floor price is 7% discount to Monday’s closing price of Rs 156 on the National Stock Exchange.
Capital Goods shares like BHEL and L&T slumped between 1-2%.
Other notable losers include CIL, HUL, ICICI Bank, ONGC, Bajaj Auto and Cipla.
Shares in Steel Authority of India Ltd fell over 4% on worries the government's planned stake sale will have to happen at a discount to attract interest as there are concerns about the company's earnings outlook.
The broader markets ended marginally higher after the stocks from this space were beaten down badly since past few trading sessions. The BSE mid-cap index was up 0.02% and the small-cap index gained 17 points at 6,952 levels.
The market breadth in BSE ended positive with 1,144 shares advancing and 981 shares declining.
Smart Movers
Shares of sugar companies rallied up to 7% on the Bombay Stock Exchange on partial decontrol buzz. Dhampur Sugar Mills, Bajaj Hindustan and Balrampur Chini Mills were up between 3-7%. Shree Renuka Sugars and Ravalgaon Sugar Farm gained between 2-3%.
Thomas Cook (India) surged nearly 3% after the travel services provider said that it is acquiring 74% stake in HR solutions company IKYA Human Capital Solutions for Rs 256 crore (approximately $47 million).
GTL Limited rallied 8% to Rs 25 after the telecom network services firm said its net loss has narrowed to Rs 81.07 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 (Q3).