 "Markets off early highs; Banks weigh")
Markets slipped from day highs on back of selling in heavyweight names like ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Tata Motors in noon deals. At 1245 hrs, the Sensex was up 64 points at 19,915 and the Nifty was up 13 points to trade at 5,969.
Earlier, the Sensex had hit a high of 19,980 in morning trades.
In the broader markets, the smallcap index advanced 0.4% outperforming the midcap and the BSE benchmark indices which gained 0.2% each.
Asian shares steadied on Wednesday ahead of a congressional testimony by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, which could offer clarity on when the U.S. central bank will reduce its stimulus, while the dollar came off a three-week low.
Asian shares, as measured by the MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index, were up 0.05 percent, with Seoul shares advancing 1.1 percent.
The European markets have started off marginally higher with all the major indices trading in the green. CAC, DAX and FTSE gained in the range of 0.2-0.4%.
Back home, among the sectoral indices, PSU, Auto, Metal and Bankex indices were the only indices in the red, losing 0.6-1.5%. Meanwhile, FMCG, Power, Consumer Durables, IT, Teck and Capital Goods indices gained between 0.6-1.6%.
The top gainers among the Sensex-30 were FMCG major ITC which gained 2.3% followed by NTPC, Wipro, Tata Power, Dr Reddys Lab, TCS,BHEL,HDFC and Reliance Industries gaining 1-2%.
Among the ones in the red were Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Coal India,ICICI Bank, Sterlite and HDFC Bank which slipped 1-2%.
Among other stocks, Shasun Pharmaceuticals surged 6% to Rs 76 after the company said it has successfully completed United States' Food and Drugs Administration (USFDA) and Brazilian ANVISA (National Health Surveillance Agency) inspections of API facility at Puducherry.
The market breadth was positive. 1,012 stocks advanced while 989 stocks declined on the BSE.
Earlier, the Sensex had hit a high of 19,980 in morning trades.
In the broader markets, the smallcap index advanced 0.4% outperforming the midcap and the BSE benchmark indices which gained 0.2% each.
More From This Section
After a modest gain in morning trades, the Rupee has slipped to trade close to yesterday’s close around the levels of 59.30. Earlier in the day, the gains were on account of the government measures to ease rules for foreign investment.
Asian shares steadied on Wednesday ahead of a congressional testimony by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, which could offer clarity on when the U.S. central bank will reduce its stimulus, while the dollar came off a three-week low.
Asian shares, as measured by the MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index, were up 0.05 percent, with Seoul shares advancing 1.1 percent.
The European markets have started off marginally higher with all the major indices trading in the green. CAC, DAX and FTSE gained in the range of 0.2-0.4%.
Back home, among the sectoral indices, PSU, Auto, Metal and Bankex indices were the only indices in the red, losing 0.6-1.5%. Meanwhile, FMCG, Power, Consumer Durables, IT, Teck and Capital Goods indices gained between 0.6-1.6%.
The top gainers among the Sensex-30 were FMCG major ITC which gained 2.3% followed by NTPC, Wipro, Tata Power, Dr Reddys Lab, TCS,BHEL,HDFC and Reliance Industries gaining 1-2%.
Among the ones in the red were Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Coal India,ICICI Bank, Sterlite and HDFC Bank which slipped 1-2%.
Among other stocks, Shasun Pharmaceuticals surged 6% to Rs 76 after the company said it has successfully completed United States' Food and Drugs Administration (USFDA) and Brazilian ANVISA (National Health Surveillance Agency) inspections of API facility at Puducherry.
The market breadth was positive. 1,012 stocks advanced while 989 stocks declined on the BSE.