A massive bout of profit bookings subdued the key indices of the Indian equities markets to close on a flat note after touching their record new intra-day highs on Friday.
Market observers said that expectations of healthy quarterly results and buying support for the auto and banking stocks had lifted the key indices.
On intra-day record high basis, the barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE touched 33,286.51 points, while broader 50-scrip Nifty at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) reached 10,366.15 points.
The NSE Nifty50 slipped by 21 points or 0.20 per cent to close at 10,323.05 points.
However, the Sensex of the BSE, which opened at 33,228.32 points, closed at 33,157.22 points, higher by 10.09 points or 0.03 per cent from Thursday's close at 33,147.13 points.
The Sensex had touched an intra-day low of 33,164.42 points-mark.
"Nifty ended lower on Friday as selling pressure emerged in the afternoon session," said Deepak Jasani, Head - Retail Research, HDFC Securities.
"Major Asian markets have ended on a positive note, barring the Jakarta and Taiwan indices. European indices like FTSE 100, CAC 40 and DAX are traded higher."
According to Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit Financial Services: "Domestic indices remained volatile within a narrow range as a mixed bag of corporate numbers and profit booking in PSBs crippled the market's momentum."
"However, optimism in pharma and FMCG stocks guarded the key support levels. Small and midcap stocks continued to show strength ahead of MSME's meeting with the GST council scheduled on Sunday."
In terms of investments, provisional data with the exchanges showed that foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold scrip worth Rs 640.95crore, whereas domestic institutional investors (DIIs) invested stocks worth Rs 56.57 crore.
On the currency front, the rupee weakened by 22 paise to close at 65.05 against the US dollar from its previous close at 64.82-83.
Sector-wise, the S&P BSE healthcare index surged by 223.88 points, followed by the automobile index higher by 214.01 points and the consumer durables index augmented by 50.79 points.
On the other hand, the S&P BSE banking index receded by 233.70 points and oil and gas index declined by 191.25 points while the telecom index inched-down by 84.14 points.
Major Sensex gainers on Friday were: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, up 4.31 per cent at Rs 431.85; Sun Pharma, up 3.65 per cent at Rs 550.35; ONGC, up 3.53 per cent at Rs 183.55; Tata Motors DVR, up 3.10 per cent at Rs 237.70; and Tata Motors, up 2.55 per cent at Rs 430.05.
Major Sensex losers were: Bharti Airtel, down 4.98 per cent at Rs 485.10; State Bank of India, down 3.03 per cent at Rs 310.95; Reliance Industries, down 1.88 per cent at Rs 929.45; Wipro, down 1.74 per cent at Rs 296.60; and NTPC, down 1.19 per cent at Rs 182.45.
--IANS
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