Markets close flat in volatile trade

Mumbai: Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed flat in a volatile trade on Tuesday amid bouts of buying and selling in select heavyweight stocks.

The 30-share BSE Sensex edged up 1.59 points to close at 81,510.05 with 16 of its components closing higher and 14 ending lower. Falling for the third day, the NSE Nifty dropped by 8.95 points or 0.04 per cent to settle at 24,610.05.

From the 30-share pack, Bajaj Finserv, HCL Technologies, Infosys, State Bank of India, Bajaj Finance, ICICI Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Titan were among the gainers.

Bharti Airtel, Adani Ports, Tech Mahindra, Reliance Industries, Axis Bank, Larsen & Toubro were the laggards.

Among sectoral indices, realty rose 1.22 per cent, focussed IT by 0.84 per cent, IT by 0.70 per cent, metal by 0.41 per cent, and commodities and financial services by 0.36 per cent each. Telecommunication, Utilities, Power, Services and Capital Goods were among the laggards.

The rupee settled for the day on a flat note higher by just 1 paisa at 84.85 against the US dollar on Tuesday, a tad above its all-time low level , as change of guard at the RBI raised expectations of a shift in the central bank’s monetary policy.