The Sensex is now at 17,598, up eight points, and the Nifty is virtually unchanged at 5,262.
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(Updated at 1221pm)
The markets slipped to a low of 17,532 owing to weakness in the FMCG and metal sectors. The Sensex is now at 17,562, up 28 points and the NSE Nifty is 12 points lower at 5,250.
Among the Sensex-30 stocks, Sun Pharma, DLF and NTPC have added 1.5% each to Rs 1,787, Rs 313 and Rs 206, respectively.
Bharti Airtel, Hero Honda and HDFC have added over 1% each.
Hindalco is the major loser on the BSE, dowm 2% at Rs 180. ITC and Tata Steel have slipped over 1% each to Rs 264 and Rs 628, respectively.
The market breadth is positive, out of 2,658 shares traded, 1,515 have advanced and 1,054 have declined so far on the BSE.
Among the sectoral inidces, realty index has gained 1% at 3,297.
On the other hand the FMCG and metal indices have slipped 1% to 2,841 and 17,815, respectively.