The market witnessed seesaw session between gains and losses as buying in key heavyweights in energy, FMCG, banks and metal counters helped the benchmark snap its five-session losing streak to end almost flat to gaining marginally by 4.55 points.
Bourses were hit by intense volatility, observing profit- booking on every rise ahead of outcome of elections, though the data showing FIIs inflows improved the sentiment with value buying in recently faltered key stocks in metals and energy stocks supporting the market.
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 386.95 crore on last Friday, as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.
The 50-share index of National Stock Exchange hovered between a high of 6,741.05 and a low of 6,680.45 before closing at 6,699.35, showing a marginal gain of 4.55 points, or 0.07 per cent, over its last close.
Metals shares hogged the limelight with aluminium major hindalco surging 5.51 per cent, JindalSteel 2.01 per cent and Tata Steel 1.92 per cent. While energy heavyweight Reliance gained 2.02 per cent, ONGC rose 1.85 per cent.
Among the losers, HCLTech fell 3.01 per cent, HDFC 2.69 per cent and Cipla 2.31 per cent.
Meanwhile, Asian stocks ended mixed, while European market witnessed weakness on escalating violence in Ukraine.
Other gainers include L&T, Axis Bank, ITC, Asian Paint and BPCL.
Tata Power, NMDC, BHEL, Wipro, Bharti Airtel, TechM and Infy incurred profit booking.
Turnover in the cash segment increased to Rs 11,445.51 crore from Rs 11,352.28 crore on last Friday. A total of 6,415.67 lakh shares changed hands in 57,11,242 trades, while market capitalisation stood at Rs 73,57,078 crore.
