Sensex flat in special trading session

The BSE benchmark index Sensex on Saturday closed flat on limited buying by investors in a special 90-minute session conducted for testing its disaster management and recovery measures.

The 30-share index moved between 17,676.83 points and 17,617.88 points before settling at 17,636.99, marginally up by 0.19 points over last close.

Among 30-Sensex scrips, 13 stocks gained while 17 closed with losses.

The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty improved by 0.05 point to 5,359.40 points.

Market major Reliance Industries fell by 0.14 per cent to Rs 813.20. IT major Infosys ended higher by 0.45 per cent to Rs 2,859.40.

Brokers said the trading activity was extremely limited during a brief session as investors were less active and funds remained on the sidelines due to week-end.

They said with the prices moved in a tight range and the volume of business also declined.

Main supporters to the market were State Bank of India, Sun Pharma, Tata Consultancy Services, Hero MotoCorp, Jindal Steel, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Tata Motors.

On the other hand, Bajaj Auto, HDFC Ltd, Larsen and Toubro, Mahindra and Mahindra, NTPC, Sterlite Industries and Wipro declined on some profit-booking from previous sessions' gains.

Both the stock exchanges BSE and NSE held a 90-minute special trading session on Saturday from 1115 hrs to 1245 hrs as the BSE tested its Disaster Recover Site (DR).