Sensex ends 68 points higher despite weak global cues

Mumbai: A key index of the Indian equities markets made up its losses Thursday to shut shop 68 points higher than its previous close, even as bourses across the world were trading on a tepid note.

The sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened lower at 16,634.08 points, ended at 16,781.43 points -- 61.93 points or 0.37 percent higher than Wednesday's close of 16,719.5 points. The chart showing the 52 week performance of Sensex is on the left.

It had fallen to a low of 16,494.92 points during the day.

The S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), too, ended in the positive terrain at 4,986.55 points, up 0.33 percent.

Broader market indices did better, with the BSE midcap index ending 0.74 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index moving up 0.46 percent.

Banking, healthcare and FMCG stocks found favour among buyers, while IT, metals, and consumer durable scrips came under selling pressure.

The market breadth tilted towards the positive as trading came to an end, with 1,466 stocks advancing, 1,289 declining and 85 remaining unchanged.

Among the gainers on the Sensex were HDFC, up 3.39 percent at Rs.2,743.15; HDFC Bank, up 3.39 percent at Rs.1,622.10; Wipro, up 2.21 percent at Rs.578.95, and Reliance Communications, up 2.14 percent at Rs.304.80.

Among the top losers were Hindalco, down 3.98 percent at Rs.129; Infosys, down 3.4 percent at Rs.2,285.10; Hero Honda, down 1.59 percent at Rs.1,652.60, and Tata Steel, down 1.41 percent at Rs.513.15.

According to data with the regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors bought shares worth $382.1 million Thursday.

Asian markets ended mixed.

The Nikkei, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed 173.68 points or 1.67 percent higher at 10,544.22 points.

At the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the benchmark SSE Composite ended 0.38 percent up at 2,853.55 points.

On the other hand, the primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Hang Seng, shut shop in the red at 21,050.73 points, down 544.79 points or 2.52 percent.

The Korean Kospi, too, closed lower at 1,693.88 points, 1.03 percent down from its previous close.

European bourses, which were wobbly at the start of trading, were ruling weak.

In Britain, the FTSE 100 index was ruling 16.21 points or 0.32 percent lower at 5,123.16 points, while its French peer, the CAC 40, was up 0.4 percent at 3,806.66 points.

Germany's DAX was ruling in the negative at 5,676.36 points, down 25.69 points or 0.45 percent.