Sensex, Nifty end flat on Fed uncertainty

Mumbai: Benchmark indices on Monday ended almost unchanged over the previous trading session mirroring the mixed trend in Asian equities after strong jobs data in the US last Friday fuelled uncertainty whether the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its meeting next month.

The Sensex ended at 59,846, up 13.54 points or 0.02% from Thursday's close. The Nifty gained 24.90 points, or 0.14%, to close at 17,624. India's banks, stock and money market were closed on Friday for Good Friday.

In March, the US unemployment rate fell to 3.5% and non-farm payrolls increased by 236,000 jos, signs of a persistently strong job market.


On Monday, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) featured net buyers for the sixth straight session. Overseas funds net purchased shares in the cash segment worth ₹882.52 crore while domestic institutions also bought shares worth ₹351.50 crore, according to provisional stock exchange data.

Barring financials and consumer staples, all sectoral indices ended positive. Real estate stocks were the biggest gainers.