The Sensex and the Nifty were trading marginally higher as participants cut down risky bets in view of the January derivatives expiry amid a lacklustre trend in the global markets.
Domestic sentiment was also hit as the rupee hit a fresh 29-month low of 68.19 in early trade.
At 1.40 p.m., the 30-share BSE index Sensex was up 25.98 points or 0.11 per cent at 24,518.37 and the 50-share NSE index Nifty was up 11.25 points or 0.15 per cent at 7,449.
Among BSE sectoral indices, FMCG index gained the most by 1.37 per cent, followed by power 0.85 per cent, healthcare 0.76 per cent and oil & gas 0.63 per cent. On the other hand, capital goods index was down 0.78 per cent, followed by realty 0.65 per cent, TECk 0.33 per cent and consumer durables 0.2 per cent.
Top five Sensex gainers were M&M (+2.42%), HUL (+2.21%), ITC (+2.18%), Dr Reddy's (+1.66%) and Sun Pharma (+1.36%),while the major losers were Bharti Airtel (-1.68%), L&T (-1.65%), Adani Ports (-1.56%), BHEL (-1.33%) and HDFC (-1.33%).
Early trade
The 30-share barometer fell 91.87 points or 0.37 per cent to 24,400.52 in early trade. The gauge had gained 530.18 points in the previous straight three sessions.
The NSE Nifty too declined 28.15 points or 0.37 per cent to 7,409.60.
Today being the last trading session of the January futures and options expiry, winding-up of positions and profit-booking in select stocks took their toll.
Global markets
European shares were seen opening lower on Thursday after a choppy session in Asia and overnight losses at Wall Street with some traders saying the Federal Reserve was less dovish than expected following its anticipated decision to leave interest rates unchanged.
Asian shares pushed back into the black on Thursday as investors dipped their toes back into equities and demand for safe haven assets such as the yen and sovereign bonds faded.
After starting weaker, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan swung 0.4 per cent firmer in very choppy trade.
Wall Street stocks and the dollar fell on Wednesday as the Federal Reserve held US interest rates unchanged, as expected, and said it was closely monitoring global economic and financial developments
Sensex trading flat; FMCG, power stocks major gainers | Business Line