The markets continue to subdued with the Sensex quoting five points higher at 20,927 levels, while the Nifty is trading lower by four points at 6297.
Meanwhile, the European markets have opened on a strong note with CAC 40 adding 32 points at 3945, FTSE opened higher by 25 points at 5875 and DAX surged 37 points to 6787 levels.
Most of the Asian markets ended the day on a negative note, Shanghai shed 20 points to end 3114, Straits ended at 3296 lower by 16 points. Hang Seng skidded 178 points to 24,532. However, Nikkei was an exception ended at 9830 up 136 points.
Back home, the BSE Capital Goods index is the top loser among the sectoral indices, down 105 points at 16,586 followed by FMCG and Metal indices.
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(Updated at 12:04 pm)
The markets are trading flat in noon deals with the Sensex hovering at 20,934 levels – higher by two points, and the Nifty at 6294 levels, down seven points.
The Indian bourses opened weak taking cues from its global peers. However, Sensex managed to recover the lost ground after slipping to an intra-day low of 20,886.53. In international markets, Wall Street fell for a second day on Tuesday as selling accelerated into the close, led by sharp losses in bank and metal stocks. The Dow Jones industrial average slid 60.09 points, or 0.53 per cent, to 11,346.75 by close. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 9.85 points, or 0.81 per cent, to 1,213.40.
Back home, Tata Motors is the top gainer among the Sensex stocks, surging on back of good set of Q2FY10 numbers posted yesterday post market hours. It has gained over 4 per cent in trade today to Rs 1326 levels. ONGC, J P Associates, Wipro, Infosys and TCS are other gainers in the BSE 30 pack.
However, Hindalco Industries has lost nearly 4% in today's session despite the company posting an increase of 26% in the net profit, which was not up to the investors’ expectations. Cipla, Tata Power, Bharti Airtel, BHEL and ACC are also among the key Sensex losers.
The broader markets have outperformed the benchmark indices, with the mid-cap index gaining 0.6% or 54 points at 8759 levels, and Small-cap index has added 114 points to 11,263 levels. Bombay Dyeing, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company, BF Utilities and Bata India are leading the rally among the mid-caps trading higher by 5% each.
Spanco, Geodesic, Sandur Manganese and Iron Ores, J B Chemicals and Hercules Hoists are among the small-cap gainers.
The BSE Consumer Durables index leads the sectoral pack, trading higher by 166 points or 2.4% at 7080 levels, followed by Auto, IT and Oil & Gas indices. However, profit booking is visible in metal counters. The BSE Metal Index is the top loser down 119 points or 0.7% at 17,642 followed by Capital Goods and Bankex.
The market breadth is positive with 1938 stocks advancing, and 893 stocks are declining.