Sensex, Nifty settle on flat to positive note

Mumbai, Nov 30 (IANS) The key equity indices settled on a flat-to-positive note on Friday amid concerns falling crude oil prices and an healthy inflow of foreign funds.

However, markets had reversed initial gains to slip in the red during the late afternoon session of trade as investors turned cautious ahead of the release of key macro-economic data.

Q2 GDP, fiscal deficit and core sector growth data will be released later in the day.

Banking, oil and gas and telecom stocks witnessed selling pressure on the BSE. In contrast, IT, realty and healthcare stocks outperformed the benchmark index, gaining 1-2 per cent.

The Sensex settled 23.89 points up or 0.07 per cent at 36,194.30, from its previous close of 36,170.41. It touched an intra-day high of 36,389.22 and a low of 36,082.97.

The Nifty50 gained 22.05 points or 0.20 per cent to finish the trade session at 10,880.75.

Top gainers on the S&P BSE Sensex were Yes Bank, which rose close to 6 per cent, while Wipro, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Mahindra and Mahindra gained in a range of 1 to 3 per cent.

Tata Motors lost 2.88 per cent — the most on the Sensex — followed by NTPC. Other major losers were Tata Motors (DVR), ICICI Bank and Vedanta.