Special trading session: Sensex, Nifty open flat

Indian equity benchmarks opened their Saturday's special trading session on a flat note following a lacklustre trade in US markets on Friday. The market seemed to be in a consolidation more after yesterday's 337-point rally on the Sensex.

The 30-share BSE Sensex gained 37 points at 17,720.38 and the 50-share NSE Nifty rose 7 points to 5,349.40.

The US equity markets were little unchanged yesterday as investors looked still hopeful for another economic stimulus from the Federal Reserve after weaker-than-expected jobs report.

Back home, largecaps like Sterlite Industries, Tata Steel, Hindalco Industries, Ambuja Cements, Wipro and Dr Reddy's Labs saw buying interest.

Cipla topped the buying list in early trade with gains of 1.5%. Wipro went up another 1%.

Reliance Industries moved up 0.5% as CLSA upgraded the stock with a target of Rs 850 a share.

BHEL, Bharti Airtel, BPCL and JSPL were under pressure.

In the second line shares, state-owned ITI rallied 6%; RCF, Hindustan Copper and National Fertiliser surged 3-5% on divestment buzz.