Sensex ends in green; FMCG, auto stocks rally

A benchmark index for Indian equities markets managed to close in the positive in volatile trade Tuesday as buying interest in FMCG, auto and banking stocks outweighed losses in consumer goods, IT and metal scrips.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the green at 17,259.26 points, ended the day at 17,243.84 points, up 0.13 percent or 21.70 points from its previous close at 17,222.14 points.

The benchmark Sensex was in the red most part of the day and hit a low of 17,135.76 points intra-day.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange closed 0.18 percent down at 5,243.60 points.

There was buying support in FMCG, auto, banking and realty space, while investors booked profit in consumer durables, IT metal and oil and gas stocks.

The FMCG index of the BSE advanced 1.99 percent to 4,564.92. The auto index rose 0.85 percent, banking index climbed 0.48 percent and the realty index closed 0.18 percent higher.

The broad-based BSE midcap index fell 0.26 percent and the smallcap index closed 0.12 percent lower.

Prominent Sensex gainers were: Tata Power, up 3.83 percent at Rs.104.40; Tata Motors, up 2.85 percent at Rs.283.60; Hindustan Unilever, up 2.63 percent at Rs.414.40; SBI, up 2.37 percent at Rs.2,151; ITC, up 2.19 percent at Rs.228.95 and Wipro, up 1.50 percent at Rs.444.15.

Major Sensex losers were BHEL, down 2.89 percent at Rs.255.80; Gail India, down 1.82 percent at Rs.356.55; Infosys, down 1.63 percent at Rs.2,776.80; ONGC, down 1.42 percent at Rs.264.65 and Sterlite Inds, down 1.42 percent at Rs.104.30.