Mumbai, July 4 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities markets was Wednesday trading 40 points higher around 11:40 a.m., led by robust buying in metal, consumer durable and automobile stocks and firm Asian cues.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,473.26 points, was trading at 17,465.73 points, up 0.23 percent or 40.02 points from its previous close at 17,425.71 points.
The wider 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was trading 0.24 percent higher at 5,300.50 points.
The BSE metal index was up 199.47 points, while the consumer durable index and the automobile index were 59.35 points and 84.36 points up respectively.
Major Sensex gainers were Jindal Steel, up 3.93 percent at Rs.468.85; Sterlite Inds, up 3.08 percent at Rs.108.60; Maruti Suzuki, up 2.41 percent at Rs.1,219.90; Bharti Airtel, up 1.60 percent at Rs.324.60; and Bajaj Auto, up 1.53 percent at Rs.1,585.95.
The main losers were ONGC, down 2.47 percent at Rs.282.35; Wipro, down 1.62 percent at Rs.394.15; Sun Pharma, down 0.92 percent at Rs.625.50; Dr Reddy’s Lab, down 0.91 at Rs.1,653; and Hindustan Unilever, down 0.84 percent at Rs.438.70.
In the Asian region, the Japan’s Nikkei was up 0.41 percent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 1.13 percent.
