Mumbai, Aug 24 (IANS) Key Indian equity indices -- the NSE Nifty50 and the BSE Sensex -- on Thursday closed on a flat-to-positive note as short covering in healthcare stocks, coupled with positive European markets and a strong rupee, kept investors' sentiments afloat.
The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed fractionally higher by 4.55 points or 0.05 per cent at 9,857.05 points.
The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 31,673.44 points, provisionally closed at 31,596.06 points -- up 28.05 points or 0.09 per cent from the previous close at 31,568.01 points.
The Sensex touched a high of 31,678.19 points and a low of 31,546.05 points during the intra-day trade.
The BSE market breadth was bullish with 1,452 advances and 1,119 declines.
In terms of the broader markets, the S&P BSE mid-cap index rose by 0.80 per cent, and the small-cap index by 0.46 per cent.
"Benchmark indices traded flat on Thursday following Asian markets, which shrugged off comments from US President Donald Trump about a shutdown of his government if the US Congress fails to fund a Mexico border wall," Dhruv Desai, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls, told IANS.
"Investors also kept a close eye on a central banking conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, which begins (later) on Thursday, where Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and European Central Bank President Mario Draghi are both due to speak," Desai added.
On the currency front, the Indian rupee strengthened by 7-8 paise to 64.03-04 to a US dollar from its previous close at 64.11.
In investments, provisional data with the exchanges showed that foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold scrips worth Rs 696.93 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) purchased stocks worth Rs 1,044.38 crore.
"After opening on a positive note today, the Nifty failed to display upside momentum and remained within a small range of 32 points through the day. Highlight for the day was outperformance of pharma stocks," said Deepak Jasani, Head of Retail Research, HDFC Securities, told IANS.
"Sectorally, most of the sectors of the broader markets moved up marginally except NSE pharma which rose sharply. European indices like FTSE 100, DAX and CAC 40 traded higher," he added.
Sector-wise, the S&P BSE healthcare index surged by 326.98 points, followed by capital goods index by 90 points and the IT index by 68.42 points.
On the other hand, the S&P BSE FMCG index fell by 23.67 points, the oil and gas index by 17.93 points, and the realty index by 17.50 points.
Major Sensex gainers on Thursday were: Lupin, up 3.87 per cent at Rs 991.75; Sun Pharma, up 3.10 per cent at Rs 483.30; Dr. Reddy's Lab, up 2.88 per cent at Rs 2,087.90; Cipla, up 2.47 per cent at Rs 573.40; and Infosys, up 2.01 per cent at Rs 912.50.
Major Sensex losers were: Adani Ports, down 1.32 per cent at Rs 379.95; Bajaj Auto, down 1.04 per cent at Rs 2,731.85; Reliance Industries, down 0.88 per cent at Rs 1,567.40; HDFC, down 0.73 per cent at Rs 1,750; and Hindustan Unilever, down 0.72 per cent at Rs 1,178.95.
The Indian equity markets will remain closed on Friday on account of Ganesh Chaturthi.
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Doraiah Chowdary Vundavally is a Software engineer at VTech . He is the news editor of SocialNews.XYZ and Freelance writer-contributes Telugu and English Columns on Films, Politics, and Gossips. He is the primary contributor for South Cinema Section of SocialNews.XYZ. His mission is to help to develop SocialNews.XYZ into a News website that has no bias or judgement towards any.