Closing Bell: Sensex ends flat, Nifty fails to close above 10,900; Sun Pharma down 8%

After trading around the flat line for a greater part of the session, equity benchmarks have ended in the green. The Nifty failed to close above 10,900, though.

Consumption, IT, metals and PSU banks were the big gainers, while the Nifty Midcap index outperformed frontline indices.

Pharmaceuticals were the big losers, with the Nifty Pharma ending over 2 percent lower.

At the close of market hours, the Sensex was up 46.70 points or 0.13% at 36241.00, while the Nifty was higher by 7.00 points or 0.06% at 10883.80. The market breadth was narrow as 1,328 shares advanced, against a decline of 1,263 shares, while 160 shares were unchanged.

Yes Bank, HUL, and Indiabulls Housing gained the most, while Sun Pharma, M&M, and HPCL were the top losers.

Govt eyes Rs 9,000 cr from sale of land, realty assets of Air India

The sale of land, building and other realty assets is part of the government's plan to trim the Rs 55,000 crore debt burden of Air India as this will make the airline competitive and fetch a better valuation when the government plans strategic sale of national carrier again.... Read More

HUL approves merger with GSK Consumer, stocks gain 3-6%

Hindustan Unilever shares gained 2.6 percent intraday Monday after the company decided to merge Glaxosmithkline Consumer Healthcare with itself. GSK Consumer shares rallied 5.7 percent intraday.... Read More

Sun Pharma, Yes Bank, HDFC Bank, Power Grid and Indiabulls Housing are the most active shares on BSE.

:Gold prices hit a more than three-week high on Monday on a weaker dollar, as a trade ceasefire between the United States and China revived investor demand for riskier assets.

Supreme Court allows auction of Unitech properties

Directs the Dhingra Committee to identify projects where 70 percent of the work is complete so that work may be taken up on priority for completion... Read More

| The board of directors of Hindustan Unilever today approved a scheme of amalgamation between the Company and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Limited (GSK CH India) subject to obtaining requisite approvals from statutory authorities and shareholders.

European stocks opened higher Monday morning, after President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping negotiated a temporary truce to their trade conflict over the weekend.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up around 1.2 percent shortly after the opening bell, with most sectors and major bourses in positive territory.

Reuters is reporting that Qatar is withdrawing from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as of January 2019, Saad al-Kaabi, the country’s energy minister said on Monday.

The decision came after Qatar, one of OPEC’s smallest producers but the world’s largest liquefied natural gas exporter, reviewed ways to enhance its role internationally and plan long-term strategy, including focusing on its gas industry, he said.

“The rupee has declined today on account of sharp rebound in the crude oil prices in the international market. Further India's GDP and fiscal deficit data disappointed the market. Hence the rupee is under pressure. Focus will now shift to the RBI and OPEC meetings. The RBI is likely to keep interest rate unchanged in the policy meet. But its guidance will be important,” Rushabh Maru, Research Analyst at Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers said.

Mahindra First Choice Services has acquired key assets of Carnation Auto.