Markets continue firm trade

PSU and oil stocks have helped the Sensex to trade firmly in green.

The Sensex, after touching a high of 17,495 is now up 41 points at 17,442.

The Nifty is up 16 points at 5,220.

The BSE small-cap index is up 1.2% at 8,995. Mid-cap index has added 0.7% to 7,005.

Most of the sectoral indices are in green. The BSE PSU index has gained 1% to 8,881. Oil, metal and healthcare indices are around 0.6% each. However, the IT and realty indices are marginally in red.

Sterlite has gained 1.4% at Rs 825. Jaiprakash, ACC and Maruti Suzuki have added 1% each.

Larsen & Toubro and DLF have advanced 0.8% each to Rs 1587 and Rs 319, respectively.

On teh other hand, TCS has dropped 0.7% to Rs 806, in spite of better-than-expected Q4 results. Bharti Airtel and HDFC are also in red.

The BSE market breadth is positive. Out of 2,450 stocks traded, 1,937 have advanced while 446 have declined.