Sensex ends higher on first day of 2010; ACC jumps

The first session of the year 2010 for Sensex ended on a higher note for the second successive day. The upmove was led by auto stocks, which continued to trade higher today on robust auto sales figures for the month of December followed by metal, consumer durables and FMCG stocks except oil & gas. Broader markets outperformed the benchmark index.

It was a cheerful start for the Indian equities and new extended timing. The index opened flat with a gain of 8.64 points, at 17,473.45 on Monday following positive Asian shares. It traded firm on select buying seen in index pivotals in the first half and further gained ground as European market opened positive and intense buying across all the sectors supported the indices to remain positive the entire session amid volatility. Finally, it close in green after touching a high of 17,582.84 and low of 17,378.38.

Secondline stocks traded also higher. BSE Midcap and Smallcap index 1.48% and 1.60% respectively.

On global front, European stocks rose as a report showed Chinese manufacturing grew the most in five years.



Asian stocks rose, extending the MSCI Asia Pacific Index`s biggest annual gain since 2003, after Chinese manufacturing grew and a stronger dollar boosted the outlook for Japanese car and electronics makers.



The Sensex ended the day with a gain of 93.92 points, or 0.54% at 17,558.73 after touching a high of 17,582.84 and a low of 17,378.38. The broad-based NSE Nifty climbed 31.15 points, or 0.60% at 5,232.20 after hitting a high of 5,238.45 and a low of 5,167.10.

Major gainers in the 30-share index were ACC (4.87%), Jaiprakash Associates (4.70%), Mahindra & Mahindra (4.52%), Tata Motors (4.39%), Reliance Capital (3.68%), and Grasim Industries (2.71%).

On the other hand, NTPC (1.65%), Reliance Industries (1.29%), Bharti Airtel (1.16%), Maruti Suzuki India (0.57%), Housing Development Finance Corporation (0.19%), and Hero Honda Motors (0.18%) were the top losers in the Sensex.

Overall market breadth was extremely positive. Out of the total 2,948 stocks traded at BSE, 2,132 advanced, 746 declined while 70 remained unchanged.

On sectoral front, BSE Auto which gained 1.88%, Metal climbed 1.82%, Consumer Durables gained 1.81%, FMCG climbed 1.11%, while BSE Oil & Gas went down 0.21%.