Mumbai: Benchmark indices hovered around the base level after a decidedly weak start amid lower Asian cues today as investors braced for more quarterly numbers. Broader markets were ahead, with mid-cap and small-cap firming up.
The breadth -- an indicator of overall health of the market -- was strong. A higher opening saw the Sensex move between 29,490.26 and 29.363.28, before hitting 29,429.24 at 1132 hours, a slight fall of 32.21 points, or 0.11 per cent.
The NSE 50-share Nifty ruled flat too with a negative bias at 9,138.90, down 11.90 points, or 0.13 per cent at 1132 hours. Sun Pharma plunged 1.68 per cent, Asian Paints 1.17 per cent and NTPC 1.03 per cent.
Notable gainers were Dr Reddy's 2.28 per cent, GAIL 1.61 per cent, PowerGrid 1.23 per cent and HDFC 1.05 per cent. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) net sold shares worth Rs 407.88 crore last Thursday, as per provisional data.
Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth net Rs 65.43 crore previously. Globally, Asian stocks were trading lower over the brewing conflict over Syria, Afghanistan and Korean Peninsula. Markets in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong are closed. Most European exchanges are also shut for Easter Monday.
