Markets End in Green on a Flat Note

Late selling following reports of a lower-than-normal rainfall in the last two weeks wiped out entire gains of the benchmark indices. The Sensex opened 30 points lower amid weak global cues, and soon touched a low of 18,449. However, the markets thereafter remained resurgent for most part of the day and brushed off slightly disappointing inflation numbers. The Sensex recovered 354 points to a high of 18,803 on the back of buying in rate sensitives. However, weak monsoon data took its toll on investor sentiments and the index erased all the gains, ending finally at 18,618 - up 22 points. The NSE Nifty ended up 14 points at 5,600. India's Met department said, that monsoon rains were 19 per cent below normal in the week ended July 13.   Asian markets ended on a mixed note today. Nikkei slipped 0.3% on fears that Moody's can cut the United States' triple-A credit rating.  BSE IT index slumped 1.5% to 5,835 ahead of the second major results today. TCS shed 2.2% at Rs 1,125. Infosys has not recovered post results and was down 1.5% at Rs 2,741.