The markets closed in the positive with the Sensex up 54 points at 18,430 and the nifty added 19 points to close at 5,535.
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(Updated at 1440 hrs)
The markets broke into the green range with the Sensex up 70 points at 18,447 and the Nifty added 20 points in the afternoon trades. In the broader markets, the midcap index continues to trade in the negative down 0.3% while the smallcap index is flat at 0.05% as compared to the Sensex which is up 0.2% outperforming the smallcap and the midcap indices.
Earlier the day, the Indian markets opened lower on the back of weak global cues. In early trades the Asian stocks slumped on the disappointing US job data. The decline in Reliance Industries and Maruti Suzuki pushed the markets further down where the Sensex touched a low of 18,258, down 86 points from the opening. However the gain in the IT and Capital Goods space pushed the markets in the green in the afternoon trades.
Among the sectoral indices, auto and metal indices continue to languish at the bottom of the chart, losing 0.6% each. Rate sensitives realty and bankex are trading flat while IT and Capital Goods are trending higher, gaining 0.7% each.
The top gainers among the Sensex stocks are Cipla and HDFC up nearly 2% each followed by ICICI Bank, L&T, HDFC Bank and TCS gaining 1% each.
Among the top Sensex losers are Jaiprakash Associates, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hindalco and ONGC losing 1% each.
The market breadth continues to be negative. Of the total 2803 stocks traded on the BSE, 1418 stocks have declined while 1262 advanced.