Sensex surges 117 points, metal, IT stocks up

Mumbai  :  A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was trading 117 points higher in late afternoon trade Wednesday led by robust buying in metal, IT and auto stocks and positive global cues.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened at 17,916.13 points and was ruling at 17,970.14 points, 117.19 points or 0.66 percent up from its previous day’s close at 17,852.95 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 17,970.38 and a low of 17,884.96 points in intra-day trade. The BSE midcap index was up 19.01 points while the smallcap index was 19.77 points high.

The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was ruling 0.55 percent up at 5,419.55 points.

On the sectoral front, the BSE metal index was up 118.92 points while auto index was up 108.96 points and IT index was up 56.56 points.

Top Sensex gainers were Tata Motors, up 4.55 percent at Rs.260.95; Tata Steel, up 2.55 percent at Rs.386.50; Coal India, up 2.22 percent at Rs.373.70; Wipro, up 2.16 percent at Rs.382.95; and Dr Reddys Lab, up 1.87 percent at Rs.1,757.70.

The main losers included Cipla, down 1.73 percent at Rs.382.70; BHEL, down 1.62 percent at Rs.197.70; NTPC, down 1.38 percent at Rs.172.05; Hero MotoCorp, down 0.85 percent at Rs.1,787; and Gail India down 0.78 percent at Rs.370.

Among other Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei was up 1.73 percent and so was Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, up 1.10 percent. Shanghai’s composite index was trading 0.28 percent higher.

The European markets were in green too. France’s CAC was up 0.81 percent, while Germany’s DAX was up 1.12 percent. Britain’s FTSE 100 was trading 0.33 percent up.

Photo : AFP