Markets trade flat, breadth remains positive

The markets remained flat in the noon trades with the BSE Sensex at 18,496, down 12 points and the S&P Nifty index down seven points at 5,560.

The Asian markets are trading in the red with the Hang Seng index down 0.8% at 21,629, the Shanghai Composite index down 0.7% at 2,796 and the Nikkei at 9,890, having shed 0.9%. Owing to the weak performance of the Asian markets, the negative sentiment seems to have rubbed off on the Indian markets causing them to witness dull trades.

Sterlite Industries, NTPC, TCS, Bharti Airtel and Infosys are the top gainers among the Sensex stocks. On the other hand, Tata Motors, DLF, Hero Honda, JP Associates and Maruti Suzuki have lost the most.

Among the sectoral indices, BSE Realty is the top loser at Rs 2,178, down 1% and is closely followed by BSE Auto down 1%, at Rs 8,813. Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Hero Honda Motors, Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra & Mahindra are the top losers among the BSE Auto pack.

BSE Consumer Durables sector is has gained the most at Rs 7,014 with VIP Industries and Titan Industries having gained aroung 3% each.

The broader markets are doing comparatively well with BSE mid-cap index at 7,035, up 0.2% and the small-cap index at 8,435, having gained 0.5%.

The overall market breadth is positive with 1,408 stocks advancing and 1,167 declining on the BSE.