Wednesday, March 16 2005 18:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The Sensex today (Mar 16, 2005) ended flat in low volume trades, shedding yet another 5.57 points to close at 6746.88 on the stock exchange, wilting under selling pressure towards the fag end of business and extended the losing streak to the fourth session.

Despite a firm start at 6757.49 and an early rise to as high of 6806.72, shares gradually succumbed to profit-selling even as the breadth of the market remained positive due to rising foreign fund inflows, dealers said.

Select steel and banking shares stole the limelight, attracting good buying support from FIIs, which cushioned the fall in the benchmark index, they added.

FIIs which was reportedly made a net investment of Rs 2897.50 crores including a block deal of Rs 2467 crores in Bharti Televenture on March 14, continued to make good investments in select scrips.

The BSE Benchmark 30-share Index opened better at 6757.49 as against the previous close of 6752.45 and soon rose to an intra-day high of 6806.72. Later, it fluctuated either-way and after hitting a low of 6732.33, closed at 6746.88, showing a fall of 0.08 per cent over the last close.

Mirroring the firm trend in banking and steel shares, the Bankex rallied by 58.22 points to 4118.42 and BSE-Metal by 43.82 points to 7020.65.

Among banking shares, ICICI Bank, Corporation Bank, JK Bank, Dena Bank, Bank of India, Andhra Bank, Vijaya Bank, HDFC Bank, Allahabad Bank and Federal Bank closed better.