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Markets continued to trade in the green with buying interest visible in oil and banking shares. The Sensex, after yesterday's smart rally, touched a high of 20326 this morning. The index is now up 67 points at 20279. Nifty is up 26 points at 6,173
Most stock markets in Asia edged up on Thursday after solid growth data from Japan improved sentiment, although Tokyo's Nikkei lagged, while worries about a prolonged recession in the euro zone kept the common currency under pressure. Nikkei slipped 0.6% at 14994. Shanghai Composite soared 1% at 2247.
Broader markets edged up as well with the mid-cap index outperforming the benchmark. BSE mid-cap index added 42 points to 6606. Small-cap index went up 16 points at 6192.
The BSE oil & gas index surged 1.7% at 9056. Healthcare, bankex, PSU and capital goods indices were also in the green. Bankex went up 1.2% on rate cut hopes as inflation eased further during the month of March.
However, BSE IT index showed weakness in trades owing to rupee-dollar movement. The index was down 1% at 5918.
Realty stocks rose for the second straight day on expectations that the RBI may further cut policy rates to perk up economic growth after the latest data showed a sharp fall in wholesale price inflation in April 2013. The main gainers on the Sensex at this hour include Dr Reddy's Labs, Cipla, SBI, RIL, ICICI Bank, Tata Steel and ONGC, all gaining between 1-3%.
Cipla is trading higher by 3% to Rs 422 after the pharmaceutical company said the shareholders of Cipla Medpro South Africa have approved the takeover offer of company.
Among other shares, Manappuram Finance has dipped 8% to Rs 14.70, its lowest level since July 2009 on BSE in early morning deals, after reporting a loss of Rs 141 crore in the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2013 due to rising non-performing assets and lower income from operations.
The market breadth in BSE remains marginally positive.
