15 points were less in overall sensex

• The markets were quite volatile today and both the benchmark indices closed flat. Textile, brokerage, midcap banks and sugar remained the star performers of today’s trade and infra stocks also registered strong buying. The Sensex closed at 19687, down 15 points from its previous close, and Nifty shut shop at 5910, up 2 points.
• From the Sensex stocks on the losing side, Tata Power declined by 1.77 per cent, M&M (1.49 %), HUL (1.45 %), L&T (1.34 %), HDFC (1.03 %), Bajaj Auto (1.02 %), REL Infra (1 %), ICICI Bank (0.83 %), RIL (0.47 %) and ITC (0.38 %).However, gainers were Sterlite Ind rose by 2.83 %, REL Com (2.79 %), TCS (2.30 %), Tata Motors (2.04 %), BHEL (1.64 %), Hero Honda (1.61 %) and SBI (1.14 %).Among sectoral indices, BSE-CD firmed up 1.72 per cent, BSE-Metal by 1.33 per cent and BSE-Realty by 0.74 per cent.
• The total market breadth remained strong as 1,985 stocks closed in the green, while 994 ended in the red on the BSE. The total turnover improved further to Rs 3,698.77 crore from Rs 3,212.45 crore yesterday.
• The Indian rupee raced to a five-month high on Tuesday, the first trading session of the new fiscal year, driven by robust dollar inflows, but gains were capped by weakness in most regional peers.
• High oil prices have raised concerns about a higher subsidy bill for the government, inflationary pressures and high interest rates, marketmen said.
• For May delivery, crude oil settled yesterday at the highest level since September 22, 2008 and was close to USD 109 a barrel in New York.
• Selling in heavyweights like L&T, ICICI Bank, HDFC, RIL, M&M, HUL, Tata Power and ITC weighed on the market.
• A recent increase in U.S. inflation is driven primarily by rising commodity prices globally, and is unlikely to persist, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Monday.
• The Supreme Court lifted a ban on iron ore shipments from Karnataka on Tuesday, freeing up about a quarter of supplies from the world’s third-largest exporter as strong demand from China keeps prices firm.
• The United States will hit the legal limit on its ability to borrow no later than May 16, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Monday, ramping up pressure on Congress to act to avoid a debt default.
• Had there not been a rise in TCS, Tata Motors, SBI, Sterlite Ind and BHEL, the fall in the Sensex would have been much more pronounced.
• “The subdued price action in today’s session was in sync with the lacklustre global cues as investors turned a little wary over rising crude oil prices,” said Amar Ambani, Head of Research (India Private Clients) – IIFL.
• Portugal’s biggest banks will stop buying government bonds and are urging the caretaker administration to seek a short-term loan to secure financing until a June 5 election, business daily Jornal de Negocios reported on Tuesday.
• In Asian markets, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan were closed for public holiday. The key indices from Japan ended down by 1.06 per cent, although Singapore and South Korean markets finished better.
• European stocks, however, were trading lower in their mid-sessions. The CAC was down 0.61 per cent, the DAX and the FTSE by 0.31 per cent each.
• The prospect of a good winter harvest is likely to bring down food inflation in India to about 8 percent by end-March, a senior government adviser said on Monday.
• Sales of small cars raced ahead in March as buyers flocked to more fuel-efficient vehicles, a trend major U.S. automakers expect to persist if gasoline prices continue to rise.
• The United States will hit the legal limit on its ability to borrow no later than May 16, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Monday, ramping up pressure on Congress to act to avoid a debt default.
• U.S. inflation is likely to remain low for now, but policymakers will keep a close eye on potentially self-fulfilling consumer expectations for higher prices, a top Federal Reserve official said.
• Japan’s nuclear crisis is likely to lead to one of the country’s largest and most complex ever set of claims for civil damages, handing a huge bill to the fiscally strained government and debt-laden plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co.
• Credit rating agency Fitch downgraded Portugal on Friday saying the debt-laden country needed a bailout, while rival agency S&P cut Ireland’s rating after bank stress tests revealed another black hole.
• Nasdaq OMX and IntercontinentalExchange bid $11.3 billion for NYSE Euronext in an effort to trump Deutsche Boerse’s deal, and pushed their case with an appeal to U.S. patriotism.
• European banks heavily supported by the U.S. Federal Reserve at the height of the financial crisis have since weaned themselves off these loans, even as the struggle for funding in Europe gets tougher.
• Standard & Poor’s stripped Ireland of its last major ‘A’ rating on Friday, citing future risks to bondholders, but the 1 notch cut and stable outlook was less severe than feared and gave the thumbs up to the state’s bank bill.