A sudden revival of buying in auto and realty counters helped the benchmark Sensex end the day higher by over 30 points to stretch the winning streak to the fourth consecutive day.
After losing over 100 points in afternoon trade, short coverings ahead of a three-day weekend holidays helped the index settle in the positive terrain.
The 30-share Sensex on the Bombay Stock Exchange ended the day at 1,6741.30, up by 30.19 points or 0.18 per cent over from previous close.
The broad-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also improved by 10.50 points at 4,976.05. The BSE and the NSE will remain closed on Monday on account of Ramzan Id.
Brokers said if the moderate gain of 30 points in a lacklustre trading today is any hint, then the market is consolidating below 17,000- level.
Auto and realty counters attracted good buying support while banking stocks suffered losses on profit-booking.
Global cues were narrowly mixed with downward bias. In Asia, Shanghai Composite index was down by 3.19 per cent, afte steel counters tumbled on reports that the US might impose extra heavy duty on Chinese made steel tubes.
Straits Times ended down by 0.92 per cent, the Nikkei by 0.70 per cent and the Hang Seng by 0.67 per cent while Taiwan Weighted closed up by 0.66 per cent and Kospi by 0.25 pct.
European indices were trading barely flat in their afternoon deals.
