By IANS,
Mumbai : A key index of the Indian equities markets managed to hold on to morning gains and was ruling 67 points in the green around Monday noon, dipping from the 115 points rise it saw earlier.
Around 12 p.m., the benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened higher at 14,591.28 points, was ruling at 14,589.67 points, 67.78 points or 0.47 percent above Friday’s closing figure.
Around the same time, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too was ruling in the green, 0.08 percent up at 4,317.2 points.
Broader market indices were doing a tad better, with the BSE midcap index trading 1.25 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index moving up 1.19 percent.
Of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE, only those for energy and healthcare stocks were in the red, while the ones for banking, metal and capital goods stocks were ruling at the top.
Market breadth was positive with 1,410 stocks advancing compared to 767 declining. Eighty-eight remained unchanged.
Among gainers on the Sensex at this time were ICICI Bank, up 4.18 percent at Rs.743.60; Jaiprakash Associates, up 3.87 percent at Rs.208; Reliance Communications, up 3.21 percent at Rs.314.95; and Sterlite, up 2.44 percent at Rs.621.50.
Among the losers on the Sensex were ONGC, down 1.78 percent at Rs.992.05; M&M, down 1.28 percent at Rs.727.85; Reliance, down 1.17 percent at Rs.2,015.80; and NTPC, down 1.16 percent at Rs.195.80.
Other Asian markets also rose with key sectoral stocks boosting bourses in Tokyo and Hong Kong.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average, a key index of the Tokyo stock exchange rose, as car maker Nissan’s and brewer Sapporo Holding scrips saw some strong buying interest. The Nikkei ended Monday at 9,826.27 points, 40.01 points higher than its previous close.
Financial stocks pepped up the Hang Seng, a primary index of the Hong Kong stock exchange, which was ruling at 18,373.08 points, up 452.15 points.