Markets off day's high

The markets continued to trade firm but had fallen from their intra day high levels. The Sensex which touched the high of 20,090 in the morning deals was at 20,033 higher by 144 points. Nifty has added 41 points at 5988.

Hindalco continued to lead the rally among the Sensex stocks trading at Rs 231 the stock had added more than 3.3%. Wipro, ICICI Bank, Sterlite Industries, HDFC Bank and Statbe Bank of India were also higher by more than 1.5% each. On the other hand Hero Honda witnessed heavy profit booking the stocks was the top loser down 2.3% to Rs 1934, followed by Bharti Airtel, Hindustan Unilever, TCS and ONGC down more than 0.3% each.

On the sectoral charts BSE banking index- Bankex led the rally, the index had added 1.94% or 248 points at 13,027, BSE metal index was also traded higher by 1.74% or 289 points at 16,927. Consumer durables, realty and IT indices were also higher by more than 0.5% each.

The BSE healthcare index which was trading flat in the morning deals had slipped into the red, down 0.45% or 29 points at 6473 and the FMCG index is also marginally in the red down 4 points at 3545.

Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, Federal Bank and Indusind Bank were the major gainers among the banking stocke traded higher by more than 2%. Among the metal stocks Hindalco was the top gainer up 3.15% at Rs 230 followed by Bhushan Steel, Sterlite Industries, NMDC and JSW Steel up more than 1.6% each.

The broader markets traded on a firm note with both mid and small cap indices adding 42 and 74 points at 7600 and 9296 points respectively.


The overall market breadth remained positive as 1732 stocks advanced while 929 stocks declined.