Thaindian News

Mumbai, Feb 6 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Monday gave up some of its intra-day gains but closed 102 points higher even as foreign institutional investors continued to be robust buyers.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 17,741.91 points, closed at 17,707.31 points, 102.35 points or 0.58 percent up from its previous close at 17,604.96 points.

The Sensex had moved up 224 points during the day but fell sharply in the afternoon, before recovering a bit towards closing.

The 50-scrip S&P; CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also ended in the green at 5,361.65 points, up 35.8 points or 0.67 percent from its previous close.

Both the Sensex and Nifty have gained handsomely since the year started, mainly backed by hefty inflows from overseas investors.

According to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors bought stocks worth $198.92 million Monday. FIIs have pumped in $2.03 billion in January and have crossed $1.18 billion in just four days of February.

Broader markets also saw gains in Monday’s trade with the BSE 500 index moving up 0.92 percent from its previous close. The BSE midcap index closed 1.26 percent up while the BSE smallcap index rose 1.43 percent.

Realty, capital goods and metals stocks were on the rise. Twelve out of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE ended in the green.

Prominent gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex included SBI, up 3.39 percent at Rs.574.75; L&T;, up 2.14 percent at Rs.1,382.75; TCS, up 2.04 percent at Rs.1,191.95; and ICICI Bank, up 1.43 percent at Rs.927.85.

Among the losers on the benchmark were Tata Power, down 4.36 percent at Rs.107.45; HUL, down 3.49 percent at Rs.386.70; Sun Pharma, down 1.79 percent at Rs.546.30; and RIL, down 0.6 percent at Rs.832.75.

The market breadth was positive with 1,855 stocks advancing, 1,054 on the decline and 105 unchanged.

Asian markets too were ruling in the green, managing to extend the previous week’s gains.

The Japanese Nikkei rose 1.1 percent to close at 8,929.2 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.23 percent to trade at 20,709.94 points.

The Chinese Shanghai Composite index closed flat at 2,331.14 points.

European markets were ruling lower as investors were worried over the political deadlock in Greece with policymakers of that country unable to come to a consensus on reforms needed to secure a financial bail out package.

Britain’s FTSE 100 was ruling 0.38 percent down at 5,878.58 points. The German DAX was similarly trading 0.52 percent lower at 6,731.81 points.

The French CAC 40 was trading 1.1 percent lower at 3,390.33 points.