Equity markets close flat; banks, FMCG stocks gain (Second Lead)

Mumbai May 19 (IANS) Indian equity markets on Friday provisionally closed on a flat note on Friday on the back of broadly positive global cues and healthy buying in banking and FMCG stocks.

The key indices which opened on a higher note following a rebound in global cues and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council s fitment of 1 211 goods in the tax slabs were pulled lower during afternoon trade.

However the 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE touched a new high of 30 712.35 points during the intra-day trade. It had touched a high of 30 692.45 points intra-day on May 17.

At 3.30 p.m. on Friday the BSE Sensex which opened at 30 539.65 points provisionally closed at 30 464.92 points -- up 30.13 points or 0.10 per cent from its previous close at 30 434.79 points.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) provisionally closed at 9 427.90 points -- down 1.55 points or 0.02 per cent.

On Thursday the NSE Nifty closed at 9 429.45 points -- down 96.30 points or 1.01 per cent. The Sensex of the BSE shed 223.98 points or 0.73 per cent to close at 30 434.79 points.

--IANS
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