By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index for Indian equities closed 22 points higher in volatile trade Wednesday, with negative Asian cues dampening sentiments at the markets.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) swung in a range of nearly 200 points between an intra-day high of 18,721 and a low of 18,504. The index closed 21.65 points or 0.12 percent higher at 18,666.71.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty closed 0.07 percent or 3.85 points higher at 5,607.85.
Of the 30 stocks trading in the Sensex, 18 advanced while 12 declined. The major gainers on the Sensex were ACC, up 2.98 percent at Rs.991.40, Bharti Airtel, up 2.59 percent at 352.15, SBI, up 2.07 percent at 2,894.20, Hindustan Unilever, up 1.74 percent at 274.20, and Sterlite Inds, up 1.61 percent at 167.35
Reliance Infra was the biggest loser, falling 1.77 percent to 1,023.25. Other major losers included ITC, down 1.21 percent at 163.85, ICICI Bank, down 1.04 percent at 1,025.30 and HDFC Bank, down 0.68 percent at 2,182.25.
Most Asian markets closed in the red with Japan’s Nikkei losing more than two percent. Nikkei settled 2.18 percent down at 9,025.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng ended 1.46 percent down at 21,089. The Chinese Shanghai Composite index closed 0.11 percent down at 2,695.
However, European bourses started in the positive. The FTSE 100 was trading 0.12 percent higher at 5,414 points.
The German DAX was ruling 0.41 percent higher at 6,143 points and the French CAC 40 was trading 0.54 percent higher at 3,663 points.