In what would qualify as a reasonably volatile session of trade, the Sensex swung in a range of nearly 200 points before ending virtually unchanged at 18,266, higher by two points and ditto with the Nifty, which ended at 5,484, down two points.
The broader market indices also ended flat, but with a positive bias.
The midcap index ended at 6,917, higher by 19 points and the smallcap index shut shop at 8,313, up 24 points. Metal and oil stocks had a rough ride.
The markets had opened lower following weak global cues after US reported disappointing economic data on Friday.
Hang Seng and Nikkei had lost nearly 1% each in the backdrop of a 1% slide in Dow Jones, which broke the crucial 12,000 level at 11,952 to record it lowest close since March 18.
But a recovery in Hang Seng and buying interest at lower levels seemingly facilitated the u-turn back home.
At one point, the BSE benchmark cruised along to surpass the 18,300 mark. But the smart rebound proved to be short-lived in the final analysis.
All other Asian markets ended at 12-week-lows, shedding in the region of about a percent each, as Chinese data highlighted concerns about weaker global growth momentum.
But there is a silver lining in the fact that the European markets, including FTSE, CAC and DAX, rebounded into the green after being in the doldrums in the early part ogf the trading sessiion.
And pre-market trading suggests a flat-to-positive opening on Wall Street later in the day.
Hindalco weakened by 2% at Rs 180 to top the loser's list on the BSE. RIL shed 1.8% at Rs 926 as the markets apparently gave a thumbs-down
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