Sensex closes marginally up by 12.75 points in choppy trade

After four consecutive days of gains, the BSE Sensex on Tuesday closed marginally up 12.75 points, or 0.05% at 24,659.23. While, NSE Nifty ended flat at 7,485.30 in a choppy trade.

The 30-share barometer had gained 1,644.48 points in the previous four sessions on expectations of a rate cut by RBI and positive global cues.

Among the gainers were, Unitech (13.25%), Pipavav Defence and Offshore Eng (11.47%), SAIL (8.11%), Hathway (7.73%) and Balram Chini (7.22%).  While, the losers were, Just Dial (13.51%), M&M Finance (4.69%), Bank of Baroda (4.61%), Trent (4.23%) and Suzlon (3.47%).

Stock exchanges were closed yesterday for 'Mahashivratri". Brokers said sustained buying by investors, coupled with foreign capital inflows on expectations RBI may reduce its policy rate, continued to influence sentiment.

They said, however, a weak trend at other Asian markets slowed the rising pace at the domestic market here as investors waited for the release of key Chinese trade data.

In the rest of Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.94% while Japan's Nikkei plunged 1.63% in early trade today. Shanghai Composite was trading 2.02% down.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, ended 0.4% higher in Monday's trade.

(With agency input)