Indian Markets Extend Modest Gains, NSE Nifty Crosses 5000 Mark

Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensex and NSE's Nifty were trading with moderate gains in morning session Tuesday. Auto, IT and capital goods stocks were trading higher while the consumer durables and FMCG shares were trading negative.

The 30-share Sensex traded at 16,496.53, up 79.69 points or 0.49 percent from the previous close while NSE Nifty was at 5005.50, 19.85 points or 40 percent up in the morning session.

The markets had opened in a positive note but shed the early gains in the early morning trade. However, the Sensex recovered in the late morning trade aided by persistent buying in banking, auto, power and capital goods and health care sector stocks on the back of strong Asian cues.

The CNX Midcap index rose by 0.1% and the BSE Smallcap index was up 0.4%. The market breadth is positive 735 shares advancing against 578 declines on the NSE.

The NSE Nifty crossed the key 5000 mark in the early morning trade and continued to hover around that figure in the morning session.

The top gainers were Maruti Suzuki (1.75 per cent), Tata Motors (1.59 per cent), BHEL (1.40 per cent), Coal India (1.24 per cent), Gail India (1.22 percent) and SBI (0.70 per cent).

Coal India stocks went up by 1.5 percent. The company reported higher-than-expected year on year sales (29 percent) while profits came 5 percent lower at Rs 40.13 billion.

Quoting CNBC-TV18 poll, moneycontrol.com said, Oil and gas major ONGC may report a drop in realizations to well below USD 45 per barrel, its profits may dip over 40% on the back of an increase in its subsidy share.

Oil refiner BPCL with a decline of 1.8 percent, IDFC (1.8 percent) and ITC (1.26 percent) were the top losers in Nifty.

Rupee 68 paise down

The Indian rupee was trading 68 paise down at 55.56 against dollar 12.20 IST, losing gains in three previous sessions, following a stronger dollar in global market. The rupee had gained 82 paise against the dollar in last three days and closed at 55.18 Monday.