The markets were trading on a steady note this morning, ingnoring the weak trend in other Asian markets. The Sensex touched a high of 18,300, and at 1025 hrs was up 62 points at 18,236. The S&P CNX Nifty was higher by 16 points at 5462.
The Nikkei had plunged 605 points or 6% to 9649, on fears that the major earthquake and tsunami that destroyed the country's northeast would take a toll on its economy.
Other Asian markets were also trading on a weak note, Taiwan was lower by 80 points at 8487, Hang Seng shed 117 points at 23,132 and the Shanghai was trading marginally lower.
Back home, Tata Steel was the top gainer among the Sensex stocks, the stock was trading higher by 1.7% at Rs 592. Reliance Industries added 1.2% to Rs 1004. Sterlite Industries, HDFC, Reliance Infrastructure, BHEL, NTPC, ONGC and HDFC Bank were also among the gainers. Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Bharti Airtel, Cipla, TCS and Hindustan Unilever among the losers.
Most of the sectoral indices werer trading in the grenn barring a few, BSE Oil & Gas index was the top sectoral gainer, the index was at 9818, higher by 99 points or 1%. Metal, Bankex, Consumer Durable and PSU indices added 0.5-0.7% each. Power, FMCG, capital goods and realty stocks also witnessed some buying. On the other hand Auto stocks witnessed the selling pressure, the BSE Auto index was lower by 75 points or 0.9% at 8692, IT and Healthcare indices were also in the negative zone.
Hindustan Petroleum was the top gainer among the Oil & Gas stocks, up 2% to Rs 327. Baharat Petroleum, GAIL, Petronet LNG, Reliance Industries, Indian Oil and ONGC were also trading higher.
Among the auto stocks Maruti Suzuki was the top loser followed by Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors, Exide Industries, Amtek Auto, Apollo Tyres and Hero Honda.
The broader markets were trading on a flat note, the BSE mid-cap index was higher by 19 points at 6548 and the small-cap index added 33 points to 7933.
The overall market breadth remained positive as 1264 stocks advanced while 865 stocks declined.
