Sensex, Nifty close flat as metal stocks drag

Benchmark stock market indices closed flat on Thursday as metal and banking stocks dragged ahead of F&O expiry.

Indian shares ended little changed on Thursday, with losses in telecom major Bharti Airtel and metals and see-sawing banking stocks ahead of the expiry of monthly derivatives contracts countered gains in energy and consumer goods. The blue-chip NSE Nifty 50 index ended 0.01% higher at 16,636.9, while the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex was up 0.01% at 55,949.10.