The Sensex is quoting at 17761, higher by 49 points and the Nifty is at 5316, up 13 points.
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(Updated at 0901am)
The markets have scaled fresh 2-year highs in this morning's trades, led by gains in the auto and metal pack. The Sensex is quoting at 17749, higher by 39 points and the Nifty is at 5313, up 10 points. The BSE mid-cap and small-cap indices are up more than half a percent each at 6813 and 8460 respectively.
The US markets ended firm, with the Dow closing stronger by 45 points and Nasdaq ending higher by nine points. As far as the Asian bourses are concerned, the Hang Seng has added 69 points to 21,305 and Nikkei has advanced 52 points to 11,038 in early trades.
Meanwhile, IL&FS has made a modest debut on the bourses. One of the leading private sector BOT (build, operate and transfer) road operators in the country debuted at Rs 287, a premium of 11.2% over the initial public offer price of Rs 258. The stock is now trading at Rs 282, which is a premium of 9% to the issue price.
The leading gainers on the Sensex are Hero Honda (appreciated by 1.4% at Rs 2034), Sterlite and M&M have strengthened by 1.3% each at Rs 847 and Rs 560 respectively. Index heavyweight Reliance Industries has added 0.4% at Rs 1099.
Grasim tops the list of losers, weakening by 0.9% at Rs 2844. And the IT pack has no respite, with the rupee continuing to trade at 18-month highs. Infosys is weaker by 0.9% at Rs 2689 and Wipro has shed 0.8% at Rs 710.
The market breadth is positive. Out of 921 stocks traded on the BSE thus far, there are 755 advancing stocks as against 146 declines.
