Mumbai: In listless trade, the stock market on Thursday ushered in 2015 on a cautious note with benchmark Sensex closing about 8 points up at 27,507.54.
While the large-cap BSE index Sensex managed to extend its uptrend for the fifth session in a row, the tepid nature of rise was due to lack of any major trigger from overseas markets following holidays in most of global markets.
The BSE Smallcap index rose 1.25 per cent and the Midcap index surged 0.65 per cent as retail investors continued to prefer small stocks over large-caps, traders said.
The BSE 30-share barometer resumed tad lower but then declined further, and remained in negative for the most of the day. However, it recovered some ground at the fag-end to settle at 27,507.54, a minor gain of 8.12 points or 0.03 per cent. In 5 sessions, the index has climbed about 299 points.
The Sensex had gained about 30 per cent in 2014 with the best annual gain in five years.
Meanwhile, the wide-based 50-issue NSE Nifty edged up by 1.30 points, or 0.02 per cent, to end at 8,284 today.
In broader markets, shares of paint makers rose due to fall in crude oil prices while airline stocks too were in demand after oil firms slashed aviation turbine fuel price.
Telecom stocks gained after sectoral regulator recommended base price for upcoming 3G spectrum, which is at a discount to 2010 auction-determined rate.
However, FMCG and pharma scrips saw some selling today.
Buying by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) provided some support to market sentiment as they had picked up shares worth Rs 481.08 crore yesterday as per provisional data.
Asian stocks were closed today for New Year holiday, while Chinese manufacturing data slipped to the lowest level in 18 months according to reports. European markets too were closed for New Year holiday.
Jignesh Chaudhary, Head of Research, Veracity Broking
Services said: "As expected, not much action was seen in the equity market today as most of the key markets remained closed for the day on the occasion of New Year. Local indices traded in a small range...Amid low volumes."
Seventeen scrips out of 30-share Sensex pack ended up.
Major gainers include Bharti Airtel (2.86 per cent), Sesa Sterlite (2.34 per cent), Tata Steel (1.30 per cent), BHEL (1.17 per cent), ONGC (0.84 per cent), SBI (0.67 per cent), Bajaj Auto (0.64 per cent) and Hindalco (0.57 per cent).
However, NTPC fell by 1.18 per cent, followed by Dr Reddy's Lab (1.03 per cent), HDFC (1.02 per cent) and Coal India (0.90 per cent), among others.
In S&P BSE sectoral indices, Metal index rose by 1.07 per cent, followed by Teck 0.48 per cent, Auto 0.39 per cent and Capital Goods 0.38 per cent.
FMCG (down 0.27 per cent) and Healthcare (down 0.13 per cent) were the only laggards.
Total market breadth remained positive as 1,831 stocks ended with gains while 975 ended with losses and 116 ruled steady. Total turnover dropped to Rs 1,928.26 crore from Rs 2,464.93 crore yesterday.
