Markets end flat as investors pocket gains, ICICI Bank shines

ICICI Bank was the star performer in today's session, comfortably topping the gainers' list by surging nearly 7 per cent.

The private sector lender on Monday reported a 45 per cent drop in March quarter net profit following a spike in bad loans due to changes in asset classification norms.

However, investors took heart from the management's commentary that the bulk of the bad loans problem is behind it and the focus now shifts to recoveries and resolution, brokers said.

Global crude oil prices hovered above the USD 75 per barrel mark on uncertainties over the US re-imposing sanctions on Iran, fanning fears of a supply disruption.

The 30-share Sensex opened positive and advanced to the session's high of 35,388.87. However, profit-booking by investors ahead of Karnataka elections this week trimmed the gains, with the gauge sinking to the day's low of 35,136.01.

It finally settled 8.18 points or 0.02 per cent higher at 35,216.32.

The NSE Nifty, after hitting a high of 10,758.55, closed at 10,717.80, up just 2.30 points, or 0.02 per cent. It touched a low of 10,689.40 intra-day.

Meanwhile, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) net bought shares worth Rs 1,037.23 crore, while foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold equities worth Rs 635.24 crore yesterday, provisional data showed.

"Market turned volatile as investors are concerned on the movement of rupee and surge in oil price which could eventually lead to tight monetary policy.

"Albeit, banks outperformed as sentiment improved on account of early recognition of stressed assets. Continued outflow of foreign money will keep rupee on tenterhook while increasing GST collection and RBIs open market operation may soften the volatility," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services.

In the Sensex pack, ICICI Bank emerged on top with a rise of 6.86 per cent, followed by SBI 1.42 per cent and Axis Bank 1.18 per cent.

Other winners were Power Grid 1.14 per cent, Bharti Airtel 0.69 per cent, NTPC 0.47 per cent, TCS 0.39 per cent, Maruti Suzuki 0.37 per cent, Coal India 0.34 per cent, Adani Port 0.29 per cent, ITC 0.16 per cent, Dr Reddy's 0.15 per cent and HUL 0.13 per cent.

On the other hand, M&M fell 2.26 per cent, IndusInd Bank 1.78 per cent, L&T 1.70 per cent, Infosys 1.52 per cent, Yes Bank 1.19 per cent, Tata Motors 0.88 per cent, Bajaj Auto 0.87 per cent, HDFC Bank 0.75 per cent, Wipro 0.67 per cent, Asian Paints 0.60 per cent, HDFC 0.48 per cent, RIL 0.43 per cent, Sun Pharma O.40 per cent, ONGC 0.35 per cent and Kotak Mahindra Bank 0.25 per cent.

Sector-wise, bankex index spurted 1.32 per cent, followed by realty 1.06 per cent, PSU by 0.80 per cent, oil and gas 0.36 per cent, FMCG 0.19 per cent and Power 0.17 per cent.

However, capital goods slipped 0.85 per cent, consumer durables 0.81 per cent, teck 0.57 per cent, IT 0.53 per cent, auto 0.42 per cent, infrastructure 0.19 per cent, healthcare 0.18 per cent and metal 0.16 per cent.

Broader markets showed a mixed trend. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index inched up 0.10 per cent while the mid-cap index shed 0.10 per cent.

Asian markets closed mostly higher following firm leads from Wall Street overnight.

However, European shares opened broadly flat as investors prepared for President Donald Trump's decision on whether to withdraw the US from the Iran nuclear deal.

Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, shed 0.85 per cent to USD 75.52 a barrel.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.36 per cent, Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.79 per cent and Japan's Nikkei ended 0.18 per cent higher.

In Europe, Paris CAC declined 0.42 per cent, while Frankfurt's DAX traded lower by 0.44 per cent in early deals. London's FTSE, however, was up 0.08 per cent.