Mumbai, Jan 3 (IANS) A benchmark index of the Indian equities market Monday gave up some of its intra-day gains on late selling pressure to close 52 points up. Broader markets, however, managed to do better.
The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,621.61 points, closed at 20,561.05 points, up 51.96 points or 0.25 percent from its previous close at 20,509.09 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty shut shop at 6,157.6 points, up 0.38 percent.
Broader markets were also in the positive, with the BSE midcap index closing 0.9 percent up and the BSE smallcap index ending 1.81 percent higher.
Metals and consumer durables stocks saw good buying while oil and gas, IT and auto scrips ended dull.
The market breadth was positive, with 2,030 stocks advancing, compared to 878 on the decline. A total of 164 stocks were unchanged.
Among the gainers on the Sensex were Tata Steel, up 3.6 percent at Rs.703.40; Sterlite Industries, up 3.05 percent at Rs.192.30; Reliance Infra, up 2.43 percent at Rs.862.50; and Jaiprakash Associates, up 2.31 percent at Rs.108.35.
The losers were Bajaj Auto, down 4.21 percent at Rs.1,476.65; Wipro, down 1.5 percent at Rs.482.90; NTPC, down 1.27 percent at Rs.198.05, and TCS, down 0.47 percent at Rs.1,159.55.
According to data available with SEBI, foreign institutional investors bought scrips worth $137.63 million Monday.
Though a few major bourses in Asia were closed, the ones that opened made a good start to the new trading year.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed 1.61 percent higher at 23,405.84 points.
European markets too rose in the first trading day of 2011 with trader sentiments improving with strong Euro zone manufacturing data coming in and gains in scrips of auto companies.
Around mid-day, the German DAX was trading 1.44 percent higher at 7,031.95 points, while the French CAC 40 was ruling 1.96 percent up at 3,879.48 points.
Markets in Britain were closed.
