By IANS,
Mumbai : Indian equities markets rose Friday morning on positive cues from other Asian markets and on expectations that the interim railway budget could cut some freight rates. By a little before noon, a key index had risen 1.68 percent over its previous close.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was at 9,624.74 points at this time, 1.68 percent or 158.91 points higher than Thursday’s close. It had opened at 9,540.6 points, higher than its last close of 9,465.83 points.
The S&P CNX Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was at 2,941.7 points, 1.68 percent higher than its previous close of 2,893.05.
The BSE midcap index was 1.37 percent higher, while the BSE smallcap index was up 1.32 percent.
Of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE, that for consumer goods stocks gained the most.
Leading the gainers’ list on the Sensex at this time were Reliance Infra (up 4.89 percent to Rs.576.90), Mahindra and Mahindra (up 3.87 percent to Rs.311.45), Jaiprakash Associates (up 3.63 percent to Rs.75.70) and Tata Steel (up 3.56 percent to Rs.192.05).
The only losing scrip on the Sensex, Sun Pharma, was down 1.65 percent at Rs.1,087.30.
In other Asian markets, a key Japanese index, the Nikkei of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, was ruling at 7,852.41 points, 1.91 percent higher than its previous close.
The Hang Seng, a key index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, was 1.77 percent above its last close.
In the US, the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 6.77 points, or 0.09 percent, to 7,932.76.
The broader Standard and Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.45 points, or 0.17 percent, to 835.19. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index gained 11.21 points, or 0.73 percent, taking it to 1,541.71.