In range-bound trading, the BSE benchmark Sensex on Tuesday closed flat as investors adjusted their portfolios amid low participation of foreign funds on account of year-end slowdown.

The Sensex, which moved either-way with moderate margins, closed 3.51 points lower at 20,025.42 as stocks in refinery, auto and banking sector eased on profit-selling.

Investors were squaring long pending positions to park their funds in fundamentally strong stocks ahead of settlement in the derivatives segment, which kept the market stable.

The foreign institutional participation was comparatively negligible on approaching year-end holidays for Christmas and New Year.

The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty eased by 2.10 points to 5,996. The combined turnover on both the exchanges dropped to $2.7 billion yesterday, compared with a three-month average of $4.7 billion.

In the 30-BSE index components, 19 stocks gained while 11 ended with losses. While SBI, Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, Larsen and Toubro, Reliance Industries declined, stocks of HDFC Bank, Tata Power, Wipro, Infosys, Tata Consultancy and Bajaj Auto recorded moderate gains.

The oil and gas sector index declined the most, losing 0.74 per cent to 10,529.67, followed by auto sector index, 0.35 per cent to 9,971.74. Capital goods sector fell by 0.28 per cent to 15,142.69.

On the other hand, FMCG sector index gained 0.63 per cent to 3,597.09, healthcare index by 0.47 per cent to 6,651.71, tech index by 0.34 per cent to 3,965.62 and IT index by 0.29 per cent to 6,730.62.

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