Key benchmark indices continued to hover close to the flat line amid subdued global cues. At 14:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, fell 12.36 points or 0.04% at 33,765.02. The Nifty 50 index advanced 4.20 points or 0.04% at 10,448.40.
The market opened higher and swung between gains and losses around the flat line in a lackluster session of trade so far.
The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.63%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 0.95%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
The breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. On the BSE, 1,678 shares rose and 922 shares fell. A total of 193 shares were unchanged.
FMCG stocks traded mixed. Tata Global Beverages (down 0.4%), Britannia Industries (down 0.12%), Hindustan Unilever (HUL) (down 0.83%), Dabur India (down 0.28%), Nestle India (up 0.64%) declined. Marico (up 0.39%), Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care (up 0.06%), Colgate Palmolive India (up 0.36%), GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Healthcare (up 1.43%), Jyothy Laboratories (up 2.28%), Bajaj Corp (up 0.26%) and Godrej Consumer Products (up 0.18%) gained.
Metal & mining stocks were also mixed. JSW Steel (up 0.5%), Bhushan Steel (up 0.16%), Hindustan Copper (up 0.6%), Hindalco Industries (up 1.68%), Tata Steel (up 1.28%), Steel Authority of India (Sail) (up 1.77%), and National Aluminum Company (up 1.79%) gained. Vedanta (down 0.2%), Hindustan Zinc (down 0.16%), Jindal Steel & Power (down 0.19%), and NMDC (down 0.44%) declined.
Overseas, European stocks declined after UK consumer sentiment worsened again in December as Britons turned more pessimistic about their finances, a survey published showed. The long-running barometer of consumer confidence, conducted by market researcher GfK U.K. for the European Union's executive, dropped by one point in December and stood at minus 13, the lowest reading in four years.
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Confidence in France's manufacturing sector fell in December, statistics agency Insee said. Business confidence in manufacturing declined in December to 112 points from 113 points in November, in line with economists' expectations.
Asian stocks were mixed. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) kept monetary policy steady despite growing signs of strength in the economy. In a widely expected move, the BOJ maintained the 0.1% interest it charges on a portion of excess reserves that financial institutions park at the central bank.
US stocks closed marginally lower yesterday, 20 December 2017, as congressional Republicans sent tax-cut legislation to President Donald Trump for his signature. The House of Representatives yesterday, 20 December 2017 passed a historic tax bill, which they voted on for the second time due to a technical irregularity the day before. The bill includes a reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. The Senate passed the overhaul early on Wednesday.
In the economic data, existing-home sales in US rose to a 5.81 million seasonally adjusted annual rate in November, the National Association of Realtors said. The number came in well above expectations.
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