Home Economy Sensex holds on to early gains

Sensex holds on to early gains

By IANS,

Mumbai : A key index of the Indian equities markets continued to trade in the green Wednesday as investors bought into realty, metal and capital goods stocks. Around noon, it was ruling 121 points higher than its last closing figure.

The 30-scrip benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened higher at 13,917.27 points, was at 13,975.64 points — 121.94 points or 0.88 percent higher than Tuesday’s closing figure.

Around the same time, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too was ruling in the green, 0.84 percent up at 4,145.75 points.

Broader market indices were doing better with the BSE midcap index trading 2.39 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index moving up 2.56 percent.

All but two of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE were ruling in the positive terrain, with those for realty, metal and capital goods stocks gaining the most. On the other hand, FMCG and IT stocks saw some selling.

The market breadth was positive, with 1,641 stocks rising compared to 580 declining. Sixty-seven remained unchanged.

Among prominent gainers on the Sensex at this time were Hindalco, up 4.96 percent at Rs.77.25; Jaiprakash Associates, up 4.68 percent at Rs.200.25; Tata Steel, up 4.16 percent at Rs.373.10; and Hero Honda, up 3.8 percent at Rs.1,455.

Losers included Infosys, down 1.68 percent at Rs.1,775.95; Hindustan Unilever, down 1.41 percent at Rs.265.60; ITC, down 0.05 percent at Rs.210.50 and Maruti Suzuki, down 0.9 percent at Rs.1,078.50.

In other Asian markets, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed flat Wednesday at 9,269.25 points, up 7.4 points.

The Hang Seng, the primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, was ruling at 18,145.18 points, up 259.45.