Mkts end flat amid geopolitical uncertainties, elevated oil prices

Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed almost unchanged on Thursday, as profit-taking in blue-chip stocks such as HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries offset gains in IT shares amid geopolitical tensions.

The 30-share BSE Sensex edged up 1.44 points to settle at 77,186.87. During the day, it climbed 394.26 points, or 0.51%, to 77,579.69, but pared gains towards the end of the session. The 50-share NSE Nifty dipped 5.75 points, or 0.02%, to end at 24,072.75. Fluctuating oil prices and weak Asian market trends also weighed on domestic equities.

Among Sensex shares, InterGlobe Aviation, HCL Technologies, Bajaj Finance, Maruti, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Tech Mahindra were the major winners. Meanwhile, Eterna, Bharat Electronics, Bajaj Finserv, HDFC Bank, and Axis Bank were the laggards. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, dipped 0.39% to $84.62 per barrel.

"Indian equities concluded largely subdued as investors remained cautious amid geopolitical uncertainties, fluctuating oil prices, and weak Asian market trends," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited. Cooling US inflation eased rate concerns and offered downside support, he added.