Sensex, Nifty end flat ahead of inflation data; HDFC duo, RIL lend support

CLOSING BELL: The benchmark indices sought support from financial and metal stocks with their respective indices climbing 0.2 per cent & 0.4 per cent. On the downside, the IT index fell 0.4 per cent.

MARKET LIVE: Sensex, Nifty listless; Asian Paints down 2%, Infosys 1%

CLOSING BELL

Stock market highlights: Investors took money off the table, on Monday, ahead of India's retail inflation data for November (due later today) and the US Federal Reserve's two-day monetary policy meeting (due tomorrow).

The S&P BSE Sensex fell 51 points, or 0.08 per cent, to end a volatile session at 62,130.5. The Nifty50, meanwhile, closed unchanged at 18,497. The indices hit intra-day lows of 61,676 and 18,346, respectively.

The benchmark indices sought support from financial and metal stocks with their respective indices climbing 0.2 per cent and 0.4 per cent. On the downside, the IT index fell 0.4 per cent.

In the broader markets, the BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices gained 0.3 per cent and 0.36 per cent, respectively.

New listing

Uniparts India made a weak stock market debut today, with its shares listing at Rs 575, marginally below the issue price of Rs 577 per share on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the BSE. Post listing, the stock of industrial products company plunged to Rs 536, a 7 per cent discount to its issue price. The stock closed at Rs 537, down 6.9 per cent vs issue price.

Primary market

Sula Vineyards: The initial public offer of India's biggest wine seller was subscribed 19 per cent till 3:30 PM on day one of the offer. Retail portion was subscribed 34 per cent, while NII was filled 7 per cent.

Abans Holdings: This offer was subscribed barely 6 per cent so far today.

4:18 PM

CLOSING VIEW: CPI for Nov expected to soften from Oct on moderation in food prices

"A tepid start-off in the domestic market was flattened due to a recovery in banking, metals, and oil & gas, while continued selling in IT stocks weighed on the indices. Key inflation numbers are expected to soften from the previous month, owing to a moderation in food prices. Extending the stock market route, the global markets remained fragile as rate decisions by major central banks took centre stage."

Views by Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial.

4:16 PM