Markets trade flat, Sensex up 23 points

The Indian equity markets were trading flat during the early morning trade session on Tuesday.This led to a barometer index of the Indian equity markets to inch-up by only 23 points, a day after it plunged to a new four months low.

Negative international cues from Asian markets, rising geo-political tensions in Middle East and disappointing macro-data continued to dent investors' sentiment.

Besides, investors were seen cautious regarding the upcoming macro-data for monthly industrial output, retail inflation and the third-quarter earnings season which starts from January 14.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was trading marginally higher by 23 points, or 0.09 percent during the early morning trade session.

Similarly, the wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was trading flat. It was marginally up by 19 points, or 0.24 percent, at 7,809.95 points.

The Sensex of the S&P BSE, which opened at 25,744.70 points, was trading at 25,646.65 points (at 9.30 a.m.) -- up 23.30 points, or 0.09 percent from the previous day's close at 25,623.35 points.

The Sensex has so far touched a high of 25,766.76 points and a low of 25,646.65 points in intra-day trade.

The Sensex had closed the previous session on January 4, down 538 points, or 2.05 percent, while the Nifty was lower by 172 points, or 2.16 percent.