Sensex falls for the fifth day, closes flat

Sensex today closed 20 points down on profit-booking in bluechip stocks such as ICICI, L&T and Hindustan Unilever despite firming global trend. Continuing its losing trend for the fifth consecutive day, it fell by 20.10 points.

The BSE benchmark Sensex on Wednesday closed 20 points down on profit-booking in bluechip stocks such as ICICI, L&T and Hindustan Unilever despite firming global trend.

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Continuing its losing trend for the fifth consecutive day, the Sensex today fell by 20.10 points, or 0.10%, to 19,639.72. The gauge had lost 345 points in last four trading sessions.

However, the Wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty edged up by 2.30 points, or 0.04%, to 5,959.20, after touching the day's high of 5,990.90.

Brokers said the market remained volatile during the session as firming global trend and selective buying in cement and information technologies companies saved the market from any major fall.

The downtrend was led by fall in lenders and industrial majors on profit-booking. ICICI Bank dropped by 1.08% to Rs 1,154.85, SBI by 0.60% to Rs 2,351, HDFC Bank by 0.62% to Rs 639.40, Larsen and Toubro by 1.23% to Rs 1,514.60 and BHEL by 1.72% to Rs 208.55.

In 30-BSE index components, 18 stocks declined led by most weighted Reliance Industries by 0.17% to Rs 874.90. However 12 stocks, including Infosys, Maruti Suzuki, DLF, Bharti Airtel and Jindal Steel saved the market from any major fall.

Among the cement companies, Ambuja Cement, Ultratech Cement, Grasim Industries, ACC, Gujarat Sidhi Cement and Madras Cement ended with gains.