Sensex ends flat; ONGC, Wipro among losers

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today pared early gains to end the day with a moderate loss of over 11 points as profit-booking emerged in index heavy stocks, including Wipro which posted 21 per cent rise in third quarter earnings.

The 30-share barometer closed the day down by 11.57 points at 17,474.49. It moved in a range of of 17,590.59 and 17,425.05 points. The National Stock Exchange index Nifty also lost 3.95 points to settle at 5,221.70.

Marketmen said weak trends in the overseas markets led to emergence of profit booking at existing levels. Realty and oil & gas stocks came under pressure by fell 1.91 per cent and 1.31 per cent, respectively.

Reliance Industries, heaviest among Sensex stocks, lost 0.69 per cent to Rs 1,077.75. ONGC was down by 2.92 per cent at Rs 1,163.05, and Bharat Petroleum by 4.50 per cent to Rs 577.75.

The realty sector was another big casualty. The sectoral index index lost 1.91 per cent at 3,930.25 after DLF lost 1.76 per cent at Rs 373.50 and Unitech 2.87 per cent at Rs 82.90.

Among 30 index-related stocks, 17 declined and 12 ended with gain. ACC Ltd remained unchanged at Rs 952.85.