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Markets have started the trading session on a marginally positive note ahead of February month derivative expiry today. Markets may remain volatile today as traders will roll over positions in the futures and options (F&O) segment from the February series to March series.
The expiry is scheduled today as the markets will be closed on Thursday due to Mahashivratri.
By 9:30, the Sensex was higher by 33 points at 20,886 mark and the Nifty gained by 7 points at 6,207 levels.
GLOBAL MARKETS
US stocks edged lower on Tuesday, easing back from record territory a day earlier as weak economic data offset gains in Home Depot and other retail shares.
The day's data showed gains in U.S. home prices slowed in December, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller index, while the consumer confidence index fell more than expected in February.
Asian shares were trading sluggishly on Wednesday following a flat finish on Wall Street, while concerns over opaque policy moves in China kept investors on edge amid a drought of major economic data. Chinese share markets eased further after sharp falls on Tuesday, but the losses were relatively limited with Shanghai off 0.3%.
Moves were likewise modest across the region, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan up 0.04%. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 pared early losses to be off just 0.1%, following a 1.4% gain on Tuesday.
FIIs
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 423.41 crore on Tuesday, 25 February 2014, as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.
SECTORS & STOCKS
BSE Healthcare index has gained by nearly 1% followed by counters like FMCG, Consumer Durables, Power, Capital Goods and Banks, all gaining marginally.
The main gainers on the Sensex at this hour include BHEL, Dr Reddy’s Labs, ITC, Sun Pharma, HDFC, Hindalco, HUL, Tata Steel, Tata Power, Wipro and Hero Moto.
On the losing side, ONGC, Sesa Sterlite, Coal India, Tata Motors and Bajaj Auto have declined between 0.2-1%.
Among other shares, Nitin Fire Protection Industries is trading higher by 5% to Rs 60.60 ahead of board meeting today to consider the share buyback proposal.
The broader markets are trading marginally positive in line with the benchmark indices- BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices are up 0.2-0.4%.
The market breadth in BSE remains positive with 569 shares advancing and 318 shares declining.
