Mumbai, August 12: In choppy trade, the BSE benchmark Sensex today fell below the 18,000 level before closing flat as better earnings by State Bank of India diluted the impact of negative factors on the domestic front amid a weakening global trend.
The 30-share index of the Bombay Stock Exchange fluctuated wildly during the session between a high of 18,113.62 and a low of 17,914.78, before settling with a moderate gain of 3.71 points at 18,073.90.
However, the broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty finished lower by 4.15 points to 5,416.45.
After a weak start on reports of a rise in food inflation and falling industrial production data, the market bounced back after State Bank of India posted attractive first quarter net income, beating analysts’ estimates.
State Bank of India shot up by Rs 180.
–Agencies