The benchmark Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex rose just 24.78 points to close at 31,687.52 on Friday. The National Stock Exchange Nifty finished almost flat, just 4.90 points up at 9,934.80. Continuing geopolitical tensions on the Korean peninsula following North Korea’s nuclear test on September 3 prevented any major rally in the markets.

Larsen & Toubro, Bharti Airtel, Kotak Mahindra and HDFC Bank were the top four gainers on both indices. On the Sensex, the fifth highest gainer was ITC. On the Nifty, it was Tech Mahindra.

Mahindra & Mahindra was the top loser on the Sensex, followed by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, BHEL, Sun Pharma and Bajaj Auto. On the Nifty, the stock which declined the most was once again, Mahindra & Mahindra, followed by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, BPCL, Sun Pharma and Bank of Baroda.

Other Asian markets had a mixed day. The Hong Kong Hang Seng rose by 145.55 points or 0.53%. The Taiwan TSEC 50 Index closed higher by 71.44 points. The Shanghai SE Composite Index finished flat, down just 0.25 points, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 lost 121.70 points.

The rupee was trading 18 paise down at 63.97 to the United States dollar at 4.18 pm.