Mumbai, Dec 1 (IANS) A benchmark index of Indian equities Wednesday built on its morning gains even as buying activity picked up in broader markets.
The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,529.99 points, was ruling at 19,726.08 points, up 204.83 points or 1.05 percent from its previous close at 19,521.25 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was trading at 5,921.2 points, up 1 percent.
Broader markets were also in the green, with the BSE midcap index ruling 2.15 percent up and the BSE smallcap index trading 2.6 percent higher
Metal, consumer durables, PSU and realty stocks rallied strongly while telecom stocks saw some profit booking.
The market breadth was positive, with 2,310 stocks advancing, compared to 504 scrips on the decline, while 79 stocks were unchanged.
Other Asian markets were subdued with sovereign debt problems of European countries continued to cast its gloomy shadow. Reports that Portugal’s debt may be downgraded led to a fall in US markets overnight, which put downward pressure on Asian bourses.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was trading flat at 23,0154.5 points, while the Shanghai Composite index was ruling 0.15 percent higher at 2,824.29 points.
The Japanese Nikkei closed 0.51 percent up at 9,988.05 points.
