Raise a toast for 2010

Today's major news

Mahindra & Mahindra to launch mini truck Maxximo at Auto Expo; the stock rises to 1.73%

National Thermal Power Corporation set to get nod to sell 10% power at market price; the stock closes the day 1.20 higher

Sical wins Rs163 crore order from Hindustan Copper; the stock jumps 9.31%

Larsen & Toubro secures orders worth Rs581 crore; the stock surges 0.87%

Government to split NALCO in three; the stock shots up 7.29%

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Post-market summary

Global signals

European indices are currently trading marginally higher. At the time of writing this report FTSE 100 is trading 0.09% higher.

All the Asian indices closed the year on a high note. SGX Nifty closed 33 points higher.

US stock futures opened marginally higher, as investors keep an eye on Initial Claims as on December 26 and Continuing Claims as on December 19.

Indian indices

Taking leads from buoyant markets globally, the Indian indices opened higher and remained up all through the day. The Indian markets hit the yearly high in a day’s trade, as the Sensex for the first time in 18 months touched the 17500-mark. Nifty also closed above 5200 level. The Sensex opened 22 points higher and never saw that level again. The day’s high was 16531. At closing bell, the Sensex was at 17465, 121 points higher. Nifty closed 31 points higher at 5201.

Market sentiment

The market breadth was positive. Of 2,965 stocks traded on the BSE, 1,670 stocks advanced, whereas 1,212 stocks declined. Eighty three stocks closed unchanged

Sectoral & stock screening

Out of the 13 sector indices on the BSE, only BSE FMCG, BSE HC and BSE Realty closed with marginal loss. The remaining 10 indices ended higher. Among gainers, BSE Power surged the most by 1.16% followed by BSE CG that rose by 1.10% for the day.

On stocks’ front, Central Bank of India surged the most-- by 10.95%-- followed by Nalco that rose by 7.29% and Shriram Transport Finance that jumped 6.92% up. Among losers, Tata Chemicals slid the most by 3.20% followed by Gujarat NRE coke that fell 2.92%.

Viewing volumes

Leading integrated steel maker Ispat Industries was the most traded shares with over 0.92 crore shares changing hands on the BSE followed by wind power major Suzlon Energy (0.64 crore shares), Industrial finance company IFCI (0.48 crore shares), India’s second largest infrastructure company Unitech, (0.45 crore shares) and Praj Industries (0.24 crore shares)