By IANS,
Mumbai : Indian equities markets closed marginally in the green Thursday, with a key index ending trade about 0.57 percent higher than its previous close.
Bleak economic numbers did not have much of an impact on the markets as government data showed that industrial production in February fell 1.2 percent over the same period last year.
The 30-scrip Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) sensitive index (Sensex), which opened at 10,876.15 points, higher than its Wednesday close, rose 61.52 points or 0.57 percent to close at 10,803.86 points.
Similarly, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) lost 0.03 percent from Wednesday’s close to end trade at 3,342.05 points.
The BSE midcap index gained 1.69 percent, while the BSE smallcap index was up 1.66 percent.
Of the 13 sectoral indices on the exchange, the indices for realty, metal and banking stocks gained the most, while auto and FMCG stocks bore the brunt of profit booking.
Among gainers on the 30-scrip composite Sensex were Tata Steel, up 7.71 percent at Rs.261.20; Jaiprakash Associates, up 7.4 percent at Rs.113.90; Reliance Infra, up 5.66 percent at Rs.653.15 and ICICI Bank, up 5.62 percent at Rs.397.70.
Losers included Hindustan Unilever, down 3.26 percent at Rs.232.95; Mahindra and Mahindra, down 3.15 percent at Rs.435.15; Wipro, down 2.8 percent at Rs.274.20 and ONGC, down 2.42 percent at Rs.884.95.
The overall market sentiment was positive, with 1,783 stocks advancing, 789 scrips declining and 78 remaining unchanged.
In other Asian markets, stocks rallied as Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said Thursday that Japan would extend up to 2 trillion yen (about $20 billion) in trade insurance to encourage Japanese companies to invest in infrastructure development in other Asian economies as part of Tokyo’s growth initiative to double the continent’s economy by 2020.
Tokyo stocks ended in the green with Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average closing at 8,916.06 points, 321.05 points higher than its previous close.
The Hang Seng, a key index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, ended trade 2.95 percent above its last closing figure at 14,901.41 points.
European markets, which came online before Indian bourses ended trade, were also in the green with the FTSE in Britain trading 0.23 percent higher than its previous close. Its French peer CAC 40 was ruling marginally 0.33 percent in the green.
Markets will remain closed Friday on account of Good Friday.