The BSE benchmark Sensex today washed out major portion of its early gains on fall in core sector output but managed to end the first day of new fiscal year on a positive note -- up 29 pts at 18,864.75, on sustained buying in blue-chips including Infosys, L&T, RIL.
Second-line stocks continued to remain in demand on heavy buying by retail investors. As a result, the S&P BSE-Smallcap and S&P BSE-Midcap indices outperformed Sensex with a rise of 2.30 per cent and 1.28 per cent respectively.
The BSE 30-share indicator initially touched a high of 18,959.48, a rise of almost 124 points. However, it later succumbed to profit-booking on the 2.5 per cent fall in February production of eight core sector industries. Sensex ended at 18,864.75 -- a rise of 28.98 points or 0.15 per cent. This is Sensex's third straight day of gains.
Similarly, the wide-based 50-issue CNX Nifty of the NSE also rose further by 21.85 points or 0.38 per cent to end above 5,700-mark after around a week at 5,704.40.
Apart from eight core sector industries data, HSBC survey today said India's manufacturing sector witnessed the slowest rate of expansion in 16 months in March as power outages hampered production activity and new business orders declined.
Infosys surged by 1.85 per cent to Rs 2,943.25 on optimism of better quarter earnings scheduled on April 12. Reliance Industries rose 0.58 per cent to Rs 778.15 after nine days of losses.
L&T closed 2.18 per cent higher after it bagged Rs 5,689 crore order from Rajasthan for setting up a supercritical thermal power project.
Sectorally, realty shares attracted heavy buying interest. Some of the capital goods, power and pharma stocks were also in the limelight.
"The upcoming results season would once again determine the direction for the markets in coming days," said Amar Ambani, Head of Research, IIFL.
Markets lacked international cues as those in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong were closed today.
