Sensex ends in green; FMCG, Oil & gas up

The Sensex ended with mild gains led by Oil & gas, FMCG and PSU stocks, while realty stocks dropped. It opened on a quiet note with a gain of 18 points, at 17,149.08 on Wednesday tracking firm global cues and suddenly fell into the red. The index soon bounced back into the green and proceeded to trade in positive zone on the back of buying interest seen in frontliners.

Some profit taking was seen at higher levels to finally close in green after touching a high of 17,290.48 and low of 17,124.15.

BSE Midcap and Smallcap index declined 0.12% and 0.16% respectively.

European stocks rose for a second day this week as gains in utilities helped offset a report that showed housing starts in the US unexpectedly fell in October. UK`s benchmark index FTSE 100 rose 23.18 points, or 0.44%, to trade at 5,347.18. French benchmark index CAC 40 climbed 16.74 points or 0.44% to trade at 3,819.10. Germany`s benchmark index DAX increased 14.26 points or 0.25% to trade at 5,784.70 (4.30 pm)

Asian stocks rose, led by mining companies and automakers, after Australia`s central bank said the country`s economy had entered a `new upswing` and a Japanese export report beat economist estimates. Japanese benchmark index Nikkei 225 gained 40.06 points, or 0.43%, to end at 9,441.64. Hong Kong`s Hang Seng is rose 188.66 points, or 0.84%, to end at 22,611.80. China`s Shanghai Composite increased 66.64 points, or 2.07% to end at 3,290.16.

The Sensex ended the day with a gain of 67.87 points, or 0.40% at 17,198.95 after touching a high of 17,290.48 and a low of 17,124.15. The broad-based NSE Nifty climbed 17.60 points, or 0.35% at 5,108.15 after hitting a high of 5,138.00 and a low of 5,078.35.

Major gainers in the 30-share index were Hero Honda Motors (2.24%), ITC (1.93%), Hindustan Unilever (1.75%), HDFC Bank (1.46%), Maruti Suzuki India (1.34%), and ACC (1.29%).

On the other hand, DLF (2.91%), Reliance Capital (1.74%), Reliance Communications (1.44%), Jaiprakash Associates (1.16%), Tata Motors (0.90%), and Reliance Infrastructure (0.78%) were the major losers in the Sensex.

Overall market breadth was negative. Out of the total 2,849 stocks traded at BSE, 1,290 advanced, 1,486 declined while 73 remained unchanged.

Among the sectoral indices, BSE FMCG which gained 1.44%, Oil & Gas climbed 1.09%, PSU gained 0.70%, Bankex rose 0.51% and Capital Goods went up 0.50%, while BSE Realty declined 2.93%, dropped 0.66%, HC lost 0.49%, Consumer Durables lost 0.12% and TECk fell 0.03%.

New Listing

Astec Lifesciences settled at a 2.26% premium to Rs 83.85 against its issue price of Rs 82 a share on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

On the NSE, the scrip opened at Rs 83 a share, a premium of 1.22% over its issue price of Rs 82 a share. The scrip has touched a high of Rs 90.70 a share and a low of Rs 83 a share, its opening price. A total of 13.24 million shares exchange hands.

On the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the shares of the company settled at 2.32% higher at Rs 83.90 against its issue price of Rs 82 a share, after opening at Rs 85.55 a share. The scrip touched a high of Rs 90.70 a share and a low of Rs 80 a share.