Sensex zooms 123 points up, FII interest intact

A late rally helped a benchmark index of Indian equities markets close 123 points up Thursday, with metals and realty stocks gaining the most. Support also came in from overseas investors, who have already poured in over $1.6 billion during the month.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,647.8 points, closed at 17,830.75 points, 123.43 points or 0.7 percent up from its previous close at 17,707.32 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also closed higher at 5,412.35 points, up 44.02 points or 0.82 percent from its previous close.

Broader markets also rose with the BSE 500 index closing 0.86 percent higher. The BSE midcap index closed 1.27 percent higher, while the BSE smallcap index gained 1.18 percent.

As per the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE, metal, realty and banking stocks were on the rise, while energy scrips saw some selling.

Overseas funds continued with their buying spree Thursday. According to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors bought stocks worth $91.8 million.

FIIs have pumped in over $3.4 billion in 2012, having bought equities worth $2.03 billion in January and $1.64 billion in seven trading days of February.

Prominent gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex included HDFC Bank, up 2.79 percent at Rs.522.15; ICICI Bank, up 2.14 percent at Rs.939.60; Tata Motors, up 2.57 percent at Rs.257.15 and Infosys, up 1.39 percent at Rs.2,807.25.

Major losers included Sun Pharma, down 1.36 percent at Rs.541.95; Hindalco, down 1.31 percent at Rs.158.75; DLF, down 1.15 percent at Rs.232.75 and Bharti Airtel, down 1.13 percent at Rs.350

The market breadth was positive with 1,828 stocks advancing, 1,057 on the decline and 125 unchanged.

Asian markets closed dull as traders were disappointed after talks between Greece and its creditors remained inconclusive overnight.

The Japanese Nikkei slipped 0.15 percent to rule at 9,002.24 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was flat at 21,010.01 points.

The Chinese Shanghai Composite index was ruling 0.09 percent up at 2,349.59 points.

European markets edged up, enthused somewhat by a good set of results from auto major Daimler even as traders awaited news from Greece on the debt talks.

Britain’s FTSE 100 was ruling 0.32 percent up at 5,894.68 points. The German DAX was trading 0.61 percent higher at 6,789.93 points.

The French CAC 40 was trading 0.44 percent up at 3,425 points.