Sensex special session..... preparation for UP poll results...

The BSE Sensex ended the special live trading session on a flat note as investors stayed away from the market ahead of state election results. 

The session, held today as the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) tested its Disaster Recover Site (DR), saw buying in select power, IT and banking stocks; while realty stocks came under selling pressure lower. 

Shares of EIH gained over 9% after Reliance Industries increased its stake in hospitality firm to 18.53% by picking additional 2.13 crore shares worth Rs 192 crore through an open market transaction.

Also, IT logged some gains with Infosys, ITC, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and TCS all in the green.

The markets breadth was positive; about 1359 shares advanced, 889 shares declined, and 1153 shares remained unchanged. 

The Sensex closed 0.11% down at 17617.88, and the Nifty ended trade flat at 5359.40.

For the week, the index fell 1.6%, after losing 2% in the previous week.

The main index is up more than 14% in 2012, helped by net foreign fund inflows of more than USD 7 billion.

Asia's third-largest economy grew at its weakest annual pace in almost three years in the three months to December, data showed this week. But investors are betting on a cooling off in inflation and possible monetary easing.

Election results in five states, including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, are due to be announced next week. A good showing in the state elections would be a boost for the ruling Congress party and could help revive stalled policy reforms.

Meanwhile, the S&P and Nasdaq notched their eighth week of gains out of the last nine, but momentum ran out on Friday as stocks ended the day lower in a thinly traded session.

Oil prices fell 2% yesterday after Saudi Arabia eased investor concerns about a reported pipeline explosion that had pushed Brent to the highest level since 2008.