Indian markets ended the session flat on Monday. The BSE Sensex ended down 10.4 points (0.05 per cent) at 20,093.13 and the NSE Nifty ended down 0.6 points (0.01 per cent) at 6,074.05.
While realty and auto sectors were up by over one per cent on rate cute expectations from the RBI monetary policy announcement tomorrow, oil and gas and consumer durables sectors were down by over 0.9 per cent.
Top five Sensex gainers were Tata Motors, Sterlite, Hero MotoCorp, ICICI Bank and Hindalco, while the top five losers were RIL, ONGC, HUL, L&T and Jindal Steel.
The Nifty and the Sensex opened marginally in the green. The Nifty opened at 6,082, up seven points and the Sensex opened at 20,129, up 25 points.
Marketmen said that they have already factored in a 25 basis point rate cut by the RBI when it meets on Tuesday for reviewing the monetary policy.
“We expect the market to be volatile ahead of the January series expiry next week,” said a report from MSFL Research.
South Korean shares dragged down the broader Asian share index on fears of weaker earnings, but improving economic prospects in Europe and better-than-expected earnings data on Wall Street underpinned the sentiment.
European stocks were little changed near a 23-month high as Chinese industrial profits increased and investors awaited a report that may show American durable-goods orders rose.