Positive European indices, coupled with short-coverings triggered on hopes of positive budgetary announcements, lent a fillip to the Indian equity markets on Friday.
However, profit-booking, negative Asian indices and a weak rupee capped gains during most of the day's trade.
Consequently, the barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) provisionally closed the day's trade on a flat-to-positive note -- up barely 60 points or 0.25 percent.
Similarly, the wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) ended the day's trade mildly in the green. It inched up by 19 points, or 0.26 percent, at 7210.75 points.
The Sensex, which opened at 23,640.32 points, provisionally closed at 23,709.15 points (at 3:30 p.m.) -- up 59.93 points or 0.25 percent from the previous day's close at 23,649.22 points.
During the intra-day trade, the Sensex touched a high of 23,774.48 points and a low of 23,508.36 points.
