Sensex ends flat amid volatile trade

The Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) scaled an all-time intra-trade peak of 10,896.39 points and moved erratically throughout the day owing to alternate bouts of buying and selling before ending the day at 10,801.72 points against yesterday's close of 10,803.71 points, a net fall of 1.99 points.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) as well as domestic mutual funds were believed to be consistent heavy buyers in several key counters. FIIs pumped in over Rs 1,719 crore in equity while mutual funds were net buyers to the tune of Rs 1,277 crore during last week.

Operators and retailers, however, booked heavy profits at the day's higher levels in a number of counters.Shares of SBI and Tata Steel attracted brisk activity as FIIs reported cross deals in both the heavyweighted stocks.

FIIs made net purchases of Rs 496.11 crore in SBI and Rs 196.28 in Tata Steel in a single session on Tuesday. SBI, ICICI Bank, HLL, HDFC, RIL, ONGC and Tata Motors recorded remarkably gains.

The market is expected remain highly volatile as it nears the crucial 11,000 level, they added. The Asian markets too exhibited weak trend weak during the day.

The Nikkei ended down by 123.15, the Hang Seng by 22.31 points, the Taiwan index by 84.62 points and the Kospi by 11.98 points. Selling pressure was more pronounced in metal sector.