Sensex ends flat at 16,217.82

The BSE benchmark sensex opened lower at 16,213.24 and hovered in a range of 16,273.48 and 16,118.35 before finishing at 16,217.82, showing a marginal loss of 4.48 points or 0.03 per cent. The NSE 50-share Nifty also finished slightly lower at 4,920.40 as against 4,921.40 on Thursday. Asian stocks ended narrowly mixed amid uncertainty over the European debt crisis and concerns over China`s growth. Key benchmark indices in Hong Kong, Japan and Kospi edged up by 0.20 per cent to 0.53 per cent while indices in China, Taiwan and Singapore eased by 0.24 per cent to 0.75 per cent.

European stock markets were trading higher in their early trade after data showed stabilizing consumer confidence in Germany, the euro zone`s biggest economy. The key indices in France, Germany and UK were quoted higher by 0.11 per cent to 0.88 per ent. Indication of lower opening in US index futures also affected the market sentiment.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold shares worth Rs 105.73 crore yesterday as per provisional figures. Second-line shares outperformed the sensex as the BSE-Smallcap and BSE-Midcap indices closed up by 0.53 pct and 0.44 pct. Back home, major losers from the Sensex pack were Jindal Steel dropped by 2.59 pct, Maruti Suzuki by 2.46 pct, M&M by 2.00 pct, HUL by 0.88 pct, HDFC by 0.86 pct, IYC by 0.75 pct, RIL by 0.64 pct and ICICI Bank by 0.49 pct.

However, Gail India firmed up by 3.37 pct, Tata Steel by 2.43 pct, DLF by 1.89 pct, SBI by 1.74 pct, L&T by 1.54 pct, Sterlite Ind by 1.52 pct, Coal India by 1.18 pct, Hindalco by 1.08 pct, Hero MotoCorp by 1.06 pct and Tata Motors by 0.88 pct.