IANS

Mumbai, Jan 15: A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets was ruling flat around Friday noon, even as other Asian markets were a mixed bag.

The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,604.31 points, was ruling at 17,570.44 points 15 minutes before noon, down 14.43 points or 0.08 percent from its previous close at 17,584.87 points.

Around the same time, at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was at 5,257.15 points, against the previous close at 5,259.9 points, a meagre loss of 0.05 percent.

Broader market indices were doing better, with the BSE midcap index up 0.53 percent and the BSE small cap index trading 0.77 percent higher.

The market breadth was positive, with as many as 1,544 stocks advancing, compared to 1,188 on the decline, and 70 remaining unchanged.

Other Asian markets were ruling mixed, with the benchmark Japanese index, Nikkei, trading 0.47 percent higher at 10,958.55 points.

The Hang Seng of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange was ruling 0.24 percent lower at 21,664.38 points, while the Chinese Shanghai composite index was up 0.2 percent at 3,221.96 points.

The Korean Kospi was trading at 1,701.8, up 0.95 percent.