The benchmark Nifty managed to hold the key 7,700-level, while paring its early losses to end lower by over 2 points to 7,733.45.
Opening sluggish, caution spelt the initial first half trading momentum as investors opted for wait and watch policy following negative Asian cues ahead of the key US Non-farm pay roll numbers that will be released today while selling took the index to the day's low of 7,678.35.
The afternoon session saw bull resorted to buying spree in key frontline shares bouyed-up by improvement in corporate quarterly results amid country's strong macro fundamentals and above normal monsoon forecast led the index recovery to end almost flat.
Pharma and IT counters witnessed selling pressure, while buying key FMCG, auto, banks and financial segments pared the index losses followed by secondline midcap shares.
Elsewhere, Asian markets ended lower as investors turned cautious before the release of the influential US monthly non-farm payroll data for more clues about the interest rate outlook in the world's largest economy. While European stocks were also trading lower in their afternoon trade.
The 50-share index resumed lower at 7,717.65 and hovered between 7,738.90 and 7,678.35 before closing at 7,733.45, showing a marginal loss of 2.05 points, or 0.03 per cent.
Stockwise, major losers were Dr Reddy 2.16 per cent, Wipro 1.84 per cent, Adani Port 1.74 per cent, HCL Tech 1.41 per cent, TechM 1.31 per cent and L&T 1.05 per cent.
Notable gainers were GAIL 4.95 per cent, BHEL 3.26 per cent, Tata Power 2.70 per cent, Eicher Motor 2.69 per cent and Asian Paint 2.54 per cent.
Turnover in cash segment dropped to Rs 13,536.81 crore compared with Rs 16,298.68 crore yesterday.
A total of 7,642.51 lakh shares changed hands in 63,59,307 trades. The market capitalisation of the NSE stood at Rs 93,87,760 crore.
