Asian stocks ended mixed as key benchmark indices in Hong

Kong, China and Japan were down by 0.31 per cent to 1.60 per cent. Key benchmark indices in Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan rose by 0.20 per cent to 0.23 per cent. Moving to the local market, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continued their buying spree by investing Rs 142.91 crore yesterday as per provisional data from bourses. Investors' focus is now on Union Budget 2013-14 to be presented on February 28, experts said. Small-cap and Mid-cap shares today moved up on buying from retail investors as these indices rose by 0.94 per cent and 1.12 per cent respectively. In the benchmark Sensex, 22 scrips ended higher while eight declined. Major gainers included ONGC (4.03 pc), Bajaj Auto (2.36 pc), Maruti Suzuki (2.19 pc), BHEL (2.00 pc), Cipla (1.96 pc), Wipro (1.90 pc), Sterlite Ind (1.63 pc), NTPC (1.62 pc), Infosys (1.53 pc), HUL (1.47 pc), Dr Reddy's (1.27 pc), TCS (1.25 pc) and Hindalco (1.04 pc). However, Bharti Airtel fell by 1.94 per cent, followed by Hero Motocorp (1.37 pc), Gail India (1.37 pc), Coal India (1.35 pc), and Jindal Steel (0.79 pc). Among the sectoral indices, the BSE-Realty rose by 1.90 per cent, followed by BSE-IT (1.66 pc), BSE-HC (1.38 pc), BSE-Power (1.16 pc), BSE-Teck (1.10 pc), BSE-PSU (1.06 pc) and the BSE-Oil&Gas (1.03 pc). The market breadth continued to remain positive as 1,371 scrips ended in green while 742 scrips finished in red and 847 ruled steady. The total turnover improved slightly to Rs 1,658.70 crore from Rs 1,607.73 crore yesterday.