After being hit hard in the previous trading session, equity markets recorded marginal gains as better-than-expected data in the U.S. and Japan calmed nerves. Indian markets commenced the day higher however it was towards the end of the day with weakness in European markets that the markets wiped out most of its day’s gains and ended just marginally higher. Selling by foreign institutions also somewhere played on the sentiments. Market breadth turned negative from positive as on BSE, 1,366 shares fell and 1,333 rose.
The BSE Sensex touched a high of 16,240 and a low of 16,007 before it closed at 16,070 thereby gaining 0.3% or 41 points. Similarly the S&P CNX Nifty grew by 0.3% or 12 points to close at 4,870 points. Mid cap and small cap stocks ended almost flat. The BSE Mid-cap and BSE Small-cap indices ended 0.02% and 0.1% higher respectively.
The sectoral indices ended with a mixed bag. While the top gainers were the BSE FMCG, Realty, Oil and Gas and Metal indices, the top losers were the BSE Capital Goods, CD and Auto indices. FMCG stocks edged higher after the weather department forecast that the Monsoon will arrive in time.
Among the 30 stocks on BSE, 16 stocks declined while the rest gained. M&M, L&T, Cipla, Bajaj Auto and BHEL were the top five losers which each fell by 3.6%, 3.5%, 2.9%, 2.7% and 1.5% respectively. On the contrary, ITC, Jindal Steel, DLF, HDFC and SBI were the top five gainers which each grew by 3.1%, 2%, 1.7%, 1.6% and 1.6% respectively.
As per the data released by SEBI, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net sellers in equity to the tune of Rs 482 crores. On the other hand, they were net buyers in debt segments to the tune of Rs 219 crores.