Markets ended the special trading session on a flat note with a negative bias with the Sensex remaining unchanged at 17,637. Nifty ended flat at 5,359.
On Friday, the Dow snapped the three week winning streak, as investors continued to worry over the situation in Europe. The Dow ended flat at 12,977 while Nasdaq slipped 13 points at 2,976.
Back in India on Friday, key share indices ended marginally higher, amid a volatile trading session, led by bank shares. The Sensex ended at 17,637 up 53 points. Nifty ended up 20 points at 5,359. Foreign institutional investors bought shares worth a net Rs 578.65 crore on Friday.
BSE PSU index added 0.5% to 7,698. Power, IT and Bankex also moved up marginally. On the other hand, weakness remained in realty shares after Friday's fall. Auto index dropped following dismal sales numbers.
Meanwhile, Cipla slipped 1% to Rs 312 after receiving Rs 424 crore demand notes from NPPA. Sterlite and DLF have shed half a per cent each to Rs 124 and Rs 203, respectively.
Sterlite was the top loser and ended down 1% at Rs 123, followed by Bajaj Auto, NTPC and Bharti AIrtel. On the other hand, Tata Power added 1% to Rs 116. Infosys and Jindal Steel rose 0.5% each.
Among other stocks, EIH soared 10% to Rs 99 after Reliance raised stake in the company to 18.5%. Other hotel stocks felt a ripple effect. Royal Orchid Hotels too, frozen 20% upper circuit at Rs 59.20, followed by Hotel Leela Venture, Taj GVK Hotels and Resorts and Indian Hotels Company rose 5-8% each.
Gitanjali Gems added nearly 1.5% at Rs 388 after sucessfully acquiring a company in Japan. BPCL advanced 2.5% to Rs 679 on hopes of a fuel price hike.
BHEL slipped 0.3% to Rs 296 after the board of directors decided and approved payment of interim dividend of 136% or Rs 2.72 per equity share for the financial year 2011-12.
