Markets end flat on April F&O expiry

Markets ended flat on Thursday, amid a range bound session, following the expiry of April futures and options series.

The 30-share Sensex ended down 21 points at 17,131 and the 50-share Nifty ended down 13 points at 5,189.

On the global front, Asian markets ended mixed. Strait Times, Hang Seng and Kospi gained between 0.1-1%.

However, Taiwan and Shanghai declined between 0.1-1%. European shares are trading almost weak.

The CAC-40 and DAX are down by nearly 1%. FTSE is marginally positive.

Back home, Nifty rollovers from March to April was 58%. From April to May according to provisional figures is over 65%.

On the sectoral front, BSE Power, Realty, Auto and PSU indices ended almost 1% down. However, sectors like Technology, FMCG and TECK ended marginally up.

GAIL India was the top Sensex loser, down by nearly 4%.

In the auto segment, two-wheeler majors Bajaj Auto and Hero MotoCorp were both down 3% each. Tata Motors fell by nearly 1%

In the metal space, Sterlite and Hindalco were down between 2-3%.

Financial shares like HDFC Bank, SBI and HDFC declined between 0.4-1%.

Other

Sensex losers include Tata Power, DLF, NTPC, Cipla and Wipro.

On the gaining side, Coal India was the top Sensex gainer, up over 2%. Other gainers include TCS, JSPL, ITC, Sun Pharma, ICICI Bank and RIL.

The broader indices ended marginally lower – BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices ended down between 0.3-0.4%.

Yes Bank has dipped almost 3% at Rs 357 on back of huge block deals on the counter on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

Nestle ended lower by 4% at Rs 4,731 after fast moving consumer goods company has reported a lower-than-expected a 8% year-on-year (y-o-y) rise in net profit at Rs 276 crore for the quarter ended March 2012 due to higher raw material, employees and taxation cost.

United Phosphorus ended lower by 6% at Rs 113, its lowest level since May 2009 on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The market breadth in BSE ended unhealthy with 1,567 declining and 1,151 shares advancing.