Stock Market: The benchmark equity index remained flat amid volatile trading after the Sensex surpassed the 85,000 mark for the first time, driven by selling in Hindustan Unilever, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and ICICI Bank, while the Nifty touched 26,000 intraday. Investors are struggling to find clear direction in the wake of record highs, traders said.

While the 30-share BSE Sensex touched the 85,000 level for the first time in morning trade, the NSE Nifty touched a historic 26,000 mark during the fag end.

Swinging between highs and lows, the 30-share BSE benchmark fell 14.57 points, or 0.02 per cent, to 84,914.04. Intraday, it jumped 234.62 points or 0.27 per cent to a new all-time intraday high of 85,163.23. The Nifty rose 1.35 points, or 0.01 per cent, to 25,940.40 points. During the day, it advanced 72.5 points, or 0.27 per cent, to a new intraday high of 26,011.55 points.

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Hindustan Unilever, Bajaj Finance, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Ultratech Cement, Titan, IndusInd Bank, Nestle, and Asian Paints were the worst performers among the 30 Sensex companies. Tata Steel, HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, Mahindra & Mahindra, Power Grid, and JSW Steel are among the gainers.

In the Asian market, Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong ended in positive territory. The Shanghai and Hong Kong markets ended significantly higher.

Markets in Europe were trading in the green. On Monday, U.S. markets ended higher. Foreign institutional investors purchased equities worth Rs 404.42 crore on Monday, according to exchange data.

S&P Global Ratings on Tuesday retained its India growth forecast for the current fiscal at 6.8 percent and said it expects the RBI to start cutting interest rates in its October monetary policy review.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 2.35 percent to $75.64 a barrel. On Monday, the BSE benchmark jumped 384.30 points, or 0.45 percent, to hit an all-time high of 84,928.61, extending its gains for the third straight day. The NSE Nifty rose 148.10 points, or 0.57 percent, to a record high of 25,939.05.

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(With PTI's Inputs)