Sensex ends sharply higher; ACC stk climbs

The benchmark index Sensex settled on a higher note supported by ACC, Hindalco Industries and Tata Motors. Metal, auto, IT and healthcare stocks gained ground. It started on a quiet note with positive bias and later, it fell into red to bounce back into the positive zone. It traded in a narrow range in the noon. As the day progressed, buying intensified across board on the back of positive opening of European markets to finally closed on a firm note after touching a high of 16,310.39.

On global front, European stocks rose for the sixth time in seven days as earnings from Barclays topped estimates and mining companies rallied. US index futures increased.

At the close, the benchmark 30-share index, BSE Sensex added 188.33 or 1.17% at 16,226.68 with 27 components registering rise. Meanwhile, the broad based NSE Nifty went up by 53.80 or 1.12% at 4,855.75 with 44 components posting rise.

Sensex Movers

Infosys Technologies contributed rise of 25.01 points in the Sensex. It was followed by ICICI Bank (24.12 points), Reliance Industries (21.88 points), Housing Development Finance Corporation (14.19 points) and Larsen & Toubro (10.31 points).

However, Bharti Airtel contributed fall of 24.59 points in the Sensex. It was followed by HDFC Bank (3.42 points), Hero Honda Motors (0.45 points), Tata Power Company (0.63 points) and Reliance Infrastructure (1.16 points).

Major gainers in the 30-share index were ACC (4.27%), Hindalco Industries (3.20%), Tata Motors (3.02%), Hindustan Unilever (2.89%), Jaiprakash Associates (2.49%), and Sterlite Industries (India) (2.34%).

On the other hand, Bharti Airtel (4.54%) as it lost grip on mkts over Zain valuations, HDFC Bank (0.42%), and Hero Honda Motors (0.22%) were the biggest losers in the Sensex.

Mid & Small-cap Space

Asian Star Company (5.58%), Allcargo Global Logistics (2.69%), Andrew Yule and Company (1.48%), Astrazeneca Pharma India (0.93%) and Amtek Auto (0.93%).

Sectors in Limelight

The Metal index was at 15,920.00, up by 247.46 points or by 1.58%. The major gainers were National Aluminium Company (4.25%), Hindalco Industries (3.2%), Gujarat N R E Coke (2.91%), Hindustan Zinc (1.55%) and JSW Steel (1.06%).

The Auto index was at 7,035.11, up by 95.22 points or by 1.37%. The major gainers were Bharat Forge (4.01%), Apollo Tyres (2.65%), Ashok Leyland (0.4%), Bajaj Auto (0.29%) and Escorts (0.04%).

The IT index was at 5,100.98, up by 68.54 points or by 1.36%. The major gainers were Mphasis (1.97%), Infosys Technologies (1.53%), Oracle Financial Services Software (1.39%), Moser Baer (India) (0.59%) and Tech Mahindra (0.01%).

The HC index was at 4,850.08, up by 57.31 points or by 1.20%. The major gainers were Cipla (2.09%), Biocon (1.46%), Bilcare (0.69%), Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (0.13%) and Aurobindo Pharma (0.08%).

Market Breadth

Market breadth was positive with 1,561 advances against 1,247 declines.

Value and Volume Toppers

Bharti Airtel topped the value chart on the BSE with a turnover of Rs. 2,236.65 million. It was followed by Tata Steel (Rs. 931.48 million), Reliance Industries (Rs. 874.24 million) and Syncom Healthcare (Rs. 668.85 million).

The volume chart was led by Dynamic Infotel with trades of over 11.16 million shares. It was followed by Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision (10.24 million), Bharti Airtel (8.21 million) and Syncom Healthcare (7.84 million).