Nifty ends special trading session in green

Cipla hits record high, stock jumps 3.5%

The markets ended the Saturday's special trading session marginally higher led by buying witnessed in pharma and metal stocks. The Sensex closed higher by 77 points at 17,760 and the 50-share Nifty advanced 17 points t o 5,358 levels.

Overnight, the Wall Street ended on a flat note on the back of disappointing jobs growth. The Dow Jones industrial average slipped 3 points to 13,289, S and P 500 gained 3 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 1,435 and Nasdaq Composite Index slipped marginally to 3,135.

Back home, Cipla was the top Sensex gainer. It advanced by 3.4% to Rs 394 on reports that the pharmaceutical company won a patent case against Swiss drug maker  in the Delhi High Court on Friday. Sterlite Industries, Hindalco, Jindal Steel and Tata Steel were also advanced 0.2-2.3% each. Index heavyweight Reliance Industries, Tata Motors, Tata Power, Infosys, Wipro, Maruti Suzuki, L&T, SBI and HUL also ended ona firm note in trades today.

On the other hand, BHEL, NTPC, Bajaj Auto, Coal India, Hero MotoCorp, TCS, Bharti Airtel and Gail India were among the notable laggards in trades today.

Among the individual stocks, Strides Arcolab soared 5% to Rs 933, its historic high level on getting final ANDA nod for Vinorelbine injection.

Aurobindo Pharma moved higher by 5% at Rs 130, extending its previous two day’s rally after the company said it had received final approvals from the US drug regulator -- US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) -- to manufacture and market anti-hypertension drug Amlodipine Besylate and Benazepril Hydrochloride capsules in various strengths.

ITI Limited rallied 10% to Rs 25 on the back of heavy volumes on reports that Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has prepared a revival plan of Rs 4,156.79 crore for the state-owned telecom equipment company.

On the sectoral front, the BSE healthcare index advanced 1.4% or 107 points to 7,657 levels. Metal, consumer durables, oil & gas, auto, FMCG and realty indices also closed highher by 0.5-1% each. At the same time, BSE power index was the only sectoral loser.

The broader markets ended in-line with the benchmark indices. The BSE mid-cap index advanced 0.6% otr 34 points to 6,145 levels and the small-cap index advanced 0.7% to 6,502 levels.

The overall breadth was positive as 1,542 stocks advanced while 707 declined.