The benchmark indices closed on a flat note after an extremely volatile and choppy session ahead of expiry. Stocks around the world declined as the Swine Flu outbreak extended beyond Mexico and the U. S., prompting concern of a pandemic and forcing Asian countries to screen travelers.

The Sensex closed 43 points higher at 11,372 after touching an intraday high of 11,492 and low of 11,176. However, the Nifty shut at 3,470 down 11 points. It has touched a high of 3,517 and low of 3,435 respectively. Among the broader indices - BSE Midcap slipped 15 points and Smallcap Index fell 41 points. While realty, metal and auto stocks fell, banks and capital goods counters ended higher.

Movers & Shakers

The realty index on the BSE fell 2.7 % on heavy selling. Indiabulls Real plunged 11%. Unitech, Orbit Corporation, Puravankara Projects and Parsvnath fell 2% each.

The BSE metal index slipped nearly 1 %. Tata Steel and Nalco were the major losers in the metal space down 2-3%.

The BSE banking index advanced 2.3 % led by ICICI Bank. The stock zoomed 8.2 % to Rs 467. Federal Bank, Axis Bank and Allahabad Bank were the other major gainers in the group up 3.4 % each.

The BSE capital goods index also ended 1.4 % higher. L&T, BHEL and Punj Lloyd went up 1-2.5%.

In the Sensex pack ICICI Bank led the gainers up 7.7%. Sterlite, Wipro, TCS and JP Associates up over 3.5 % each were the other major gainers in the pack.

Ranbaxy, SBI, Tata Motors and Hero Honda on the other hand witnessed selling pressure and were down 2-5%.