The benchmark indices ended flat after a weak trading session. The Sensex recovered 266 points from the day's low of 14,608 and closed 34 points higher at 14,875.

The NSE Nifty shut at 4,525 down just 5 points, after recovering 74 points from the day's low of 4,451. Among the broader indices - BSE smallcap index advanced 0.9 % while CNX midcap index gained 0.4 %. Volumes were on the higher side compared to previous session and the market breadth was very strong.

Metal, select financial and auto stocks helped the markets to recover in late trade while power, telecom, select oil and technology stocks remained under pressure. The June future ended with an 8 point premium.

Movers & Shakers

The BSE Metal Index was up 2.48% or 283 points to close at 11,740. Tata Steel, Sterlite, Jindal Saw and SAIL were up 4-8%.

Auto stocks witnessed some buying interest. The Index rose 1.37% or 64 points to 4,764. Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors, Hero Honda, M&M and Bharat Forge gained 1-7%.
Among the capital goods stocks, Punj Lloyd, ABB and L&T moved up 1-3.4% while Siemens was down 3.15% and BHEL declined 0.39%.

However reality stocks witnessed some profit booking. The BSE Realty Index fell 2% or 80 points to 3,954. Indiabulls Real was down 6% and DLF fell 2.43% and HDIL down 0.7%.

There was a mixed trend in the banking stocks. SBI and ICICI Bank gained 1.3-1.6% while Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra, PNB and HDFC Bank fell 2.4-3%. HDFC was up 4.3%.

The fertiliser space was buzzing today. Coromandel Fertilisers, Fertiliser and Chemical, National Fertiliser and Rashtriya Chemical gained 9-15%.

Among the Sensex stocks, Tata Steel surged over 8 % to Rs 474. Other major gainers included HDFC, up 4 % to Rs, 2,394, and Sterlite, up over 3 % to Rs 690.