Markets choppy,Sensex ends flat

While the positive factors like firm Asian and European markets and Goldman Sachs8217; forecast of a faster growth for the domestic economy kept the market in better shape during the day,a rise in food inflation capped the gains towards the last hour trade. Food inflation has touched 17.47 per cent in the third week of November.

In similar fashion,the wide-based National Stock Exchange8217;s Nifty edged up 8.45 points to close at 5,131.70 points. It moved between 5,181.00 and 5,106.60 during the session.

Among the 30 Sensex stocks,18 closed higher and 12 ended with losses. Major supporters to the market were the counters in the healthcare,metals,realty,oil and gas and power segments,while the auto and capital goods sectors were down on emergence of profit-selling.

A fall in heavy-weight stocks of Infosys Technologies,ICICI Bank,Tata Motors and,Reliance Infra and Jaiprakash Associates mainly pulled down the market.