Sensex ends flat; bank stocks gain

Mumbai, May 8 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Thursday's trade flat, even as bank, automobile and consumer durables stocks gained.

However, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), healthcare and oil and gas stocks sustained losses.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 22,382.14 points, closed trade at 22,347.90 points (provisional), up 24.00 points or 0.11 percent from the previous day's close at 22,323.90 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 22,443.13 points and a low of 22,277.04 points in trade.

The S&P BSE bank index gained 105.35 points, automobile index closed higher by 95.49 points and consumer durables index was up 78.75 points.

However, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) index closed lower by 58.13 points, while healthcare index lost 39.07 points and oil and gas index was down by 22.33 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also ended trade flat. It gained 8.30 points or 0.12 percent at 6,660.85 points.