Profit bookings subdue equity markets; Sensex closes flat

Mumbai, July 17: Profit bookings coupled with no active triggers subdued the sentiments in the Indian equity markets which closed flat on Friday. The sensitive index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) closed flat, gaining only 17 points or 0.06 percent. The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the tiol Stock Exchange (NSE) also ended the day’s trade flat. It was margilly higher by 1.80 points or 0.02 percent at 8,609.85 points. The S&P BSE 30-scrip Sensex opened at 28,480.92 points, and closed the day’s trade at 28,463.31 points, up 17.19 points, or 0.06 percent from its previous close of 28,446.12 points. The Sensex touched a high of 28,576.32 points and a low of 28,417.46 points during the intra-day trade.

Alysts said that the markets remained choppy due to lack of triggers from both the domestic and global fronts. Profit bookings after two consecutive days of rally also subdued the markets.

The barometer index rose by more than 247 points on Thursday, while it ended Wednesday’s trade with gains of over 265 points. “With no positive cue on the horizon, the markets are expected to be range-bound and sideways,” Alex Mathews, head research, Geojit BNP Paribas Fincial Services, told IANS. (IANS)