Market ushers in 2015 on cautious note,Sensex ends nearly flat

In listless trade, the stock market today ushered in 2015 on a cautious note with benchmark Sensex closing about 8 points up at 27,507.54.
While the large-cap BSE index Sensex managed to extend its uptrend for the fifth session in a row, the tepid nature of rise was due to lack of any major trigger from overseas markets following holidays in most of global markets.
The BSE Smallcap index rose 1.25 per cent and the Midcap index surged 0.65 per cent as retail investors continued to prefer small stocks over large-caps, traders said.
The BSE 30-share barometer resumed tad lower but then declined further, and remained in negative for the most of the day. However, it recovered some ground at the fag-end to settle at 27,507.54, a minor gain of 8.12 points or 0.03 per cent. In 5 sessions, the index has climbed about 299 points.

The Sensex had gained about 30 per cent in 2014 with the best annual gain in five years.
Meanwhile, the wide-based 50-issue NSE Nifty edged up by 1.30 points, or 0.02 per cent, to end at 8,284 today.

In broader markets, shares of paint makers rose due to fall in crude oil prices while airline stocks too were in demand after oil firms slashed aviation turbine fuel price.
Telecom stocks gained after sectoral regulator recommended base price for upcoming 3G spectrum, which is at a discount to 2010 auction-determined rate.
However, FMCG and pharma scrips saw some selling today.
Buying by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) provided some support to market sentiment as they had picked up shares worth Rs 481.08 crore yesterday as per provisional data.

Asian stocks were closed today for New Year holiday, while Chinese manufacturing data slipped to the lowest level in 18 months according to reports. European markets too were closed for New Year holiday.