The BSE Sensex was almost flat, trading around 85,011 in Monday morning trade, after falling in the previous three sessions, amid thin trading and persistent foreign outflows, which continued to curb risk appetite. Foreign portfolio investors remained net sellers, with outflows amounting to $35.43 million on Friday, according to provisional data, bringing the total to $1.64 billion in December so far. Gains in metals and manufacturing helped offset declines in financial services and banking. The benchmarks have traded in a narrow range in recent sessions amid a lack of strong catalysts. Traders await the release of Indian industrial and manufacturing production data due later today, while an upbeat session on Wall Street on Friday helped support sentiment. Tata Steel rose 2.4%, JSW Steel climbed 1.0%, while Adani Ports and Power Grid fell 1.2% and 0.9%, respectively. Meanwhile, Coforge advanced 0.9% after the company said on Friday it would acquire artificial intelligence firm Encora.