By IANS,
Mumbai : Indian equities markets were ruling in the green Thursday as most bourses around the world displayed positive sentiments on signs that demand in the key US sectors like housing had picked up. About an hour after opening bell, a key index was trading 1.47 percent above its last closing figure.
The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensitive Index (Sensex), which opened at 9,739.93 points, higher than its 9,667.9-point close Thursday, was at 9,810.36 points, 1.47 percent or 142.46 points higher than its previous close.
Similarly, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was above the psychologically important 3,000-mark at 3,024.1 points, 1.33 percent up from its last close of 2,984.35.
Among broader market indices, the BSE midcap index was 0.94 percent higher than its previous close, while the BSE smallcap index was up 0.92 percent.
Of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE ruling in positive terrain, the index for realty stocks gained the most.
Among the gainers on the Sensex were BHEL, up 4.91 percent at Rs.1,556.25; ITC, up 3.44 percent at Rs.183.45; Larsen and Toubro, up 2.75 percent at Rs.640.50; and HDFC, up 2.68 percent at Rs.1,640.
There were only four losers on the Sensex around this time: Mahindra and Mahindra, down 0.45 percent at Rs.377.65; Bharti Airtel, down 0.35 percent at Rs.589; and Ranbaxy, down 0.15 percent at Rs.162.50.
In other Asian markets, Tokyo stocks were ruling in the green towards closing bell Thursday with the Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average at 8,558.76 points, 78.77 points higher than its previous close.
The Hang Seng, a key index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, was ruling 2.55 percent or 347.52 points above its last close at 13,969.63 points.
US stock indices made gains Wednesday after government figures showed demand is rising for housing and long-lasting goods such as machinery and computers.
The broader Standard and Poor’s 500 Index rose 7.76 points, or 0.96 percent, to 813.88 points, led by banking shares. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index rose 12.43 points, or 0.82 percent, to 1,528.95.