Sensex springs up 123 pts on 'above normal' monsoon forecast

Equities jumped for a second straight session today, led by gains in auto stocks on forecast of an 'above normal' rains this year, following back-to-back monsoon failures, while domestic investors and foreign funds increased buying ahead of key macroeconomic data due later in the day.
A firm opening in Europe and a mixed trend in regional markets also buoyed trading sentiment here.
The benchmark BSE Sensex surged by 123 points to 25,145.59 on sustained buying ahead of key macroeconomic data -- IIP for February and Consumer Price Index (CPI) for March.
Broader markets also continued to display firm trend as retail investors enlarged their exposure, with the BSE mid-cap index rising 1 per cent and small-cap gaining 0.90 per cent.

Meanwhile, forecaster Skymet had yesterday said rainfall in India is expected to be 'above average' this year.
Indian Meteorological Department today came out with its prediction, saying the monsoon will be "above normal" and there would be fair distribution across the country.

Consequently, agriculture-linked stocks were in the limelight. Major gainers were Insecticides (India) at 16.17 per cent followed by Jain Irrigation Systems 6.13 per cent, Chambal Fertilisers 4.07 per cent, Kaveri Seed 3.39 per cent and Deepak Fertilisers 0.75 per cent.
Moreover, from auto pack, Maruti Suzuki, Hero MotoCorp, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto and M&M surged by up to 2.82 per cent.

The 30-share Sensex after shuttling between 25,180.02 and 24,996.44, finally ended 123.43 points or 0.49 per cent higher at 25,145.59, its highest closing since April 4. Yesterday, the index had by rallied 348.32 points.
The broader NSE Nifty recaptured the 7,700-mark and ended at 7,708.95, up 37.55 points or 0.49 per cent. Intra-day, it touched a high and a low of 7,717.40 and 7,663.35.
Stocks of jewellery firms, Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri rose 4.60 per cent to Rs 64.80 and PC Jewellers surged 3.57 per cent to Rs 361.40 after they reopened shops following six weeks of protest against the 1 per cent excise duty on non-silver jewellery.

From Asia, Japan's Nikkei settled 1.13 per cent higher and indices in Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea moved up by 0.19 per cent to 0.56 per cent, while those in China and Taiwan fell by up to 0.37 per cent.
"Indian markets took heart from weather forecasts pointing
to higher potential for an above normal rainfall this season, but the shortened nature of the week kept buyers in two minds," said Anand James Chief Market Strategist at Geojit BNP Paribas.
Out of the 30-share Sensex pack, 23 scrips ended higher.
Major gainers were GAIL (3.87 pc), Maruti Suzuki (2.82 pc), Hero MotoCorp (2.47 pc), Tata Motors (2.40 pc), Adani Ports (1.92 pc), Dr Reddy's (1.79 pct, ICICI Bank (1.71 pc), Bajaj Auto (1.53 pc), ONGC (1.37 pc), Lupin (1.20 pc), HDFC (0.92 pct) and HUL (0.86 pc), while Coal India lost 2.28 per cent, followed by Tata Steel (2.11 pc), ITC (1.18 pc) and HDFC Bank (0.55 pc).

Among major indices, auto rose by 1.61 per cent followed by Industrials 1.43 per cent, Oil&Gas 1.21 per cent, Utilities 1.03 per cent, Healthcare 1.00 per cent, consumer durables 0.74 per cent and capital goods 0.69 per cent, while metal fell by 1.38 per cent.
The market breadth remained positive as 1,5 "Indian markets took heart from weather forecasts pointing to higher potential for an above normal rainfall this season, but the shortened nature of the week kept buyers in two minds," said Anand James Chief Market Strategist at Geojit BNP Paribas.
Out of the 30-share Sensex pack, 23 scrips ended higher.

Major gainers were GAIL (3.87 pc), Maruti Suzuki (2.82 pc), Hero MotoCorp (2.47 pc), Tata Motors (2.40 pc), Adani Ports (1.92 pc), Dr Reddy's (1.79 pct, ICICI Bank (1.71 pc), Bajaj Auto (1.53 pc), ONGC (1.37 pc), Lupin (1.20 pc), HDFC (0.92 pct) and HUL (0.86 pc), while Coal India lost 2.28 per cent, followed by Tata Steel (2.11 pc), ITC (1.18 pc) and HDFC Bank (0.55 pc).
Among major indices, auto rose by 1.61 per cent followed by Industrials 1.43 per cent, Oil&Gas 1.21 per cent, Utilities 1.03 per cent, healthcare 1.00 per cent, consumer durables 0.74 per cent and capital goods 0.69 per cent, while metal fell by 1.38 per cent.

The market breadth remained positive as 1,519 stocks ended higher, 1,101 closed lower, while 125 ruled steady.
The total turnover fell to Rs 2,466.46 crore from Rs 3,856.05 crore yesterday.
Meanwhile, Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 107.23 crs yesterday, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges.