Mumbai, Jan 20 (IANS) A benchmark index for an Indian equities market Thursday moved 68 points higher, closing above the 19,000-mark, while broader markets closed dull.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,892.43 points, closed at 19,046.54 points — 68.22 points or 0.36 percent up from its previous close at 18,978.32 points.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange too shut shop moderately higher at 5,711.6 points, up 20.55 points or 0.36 percent.
Broader markets ended flat with the BSE midcap index closing 0.14 percent down and the BSE smallcap index ending 0.04 percent lower.
Energy and FMCG stocks were among big losers, while banking, IT and telecom stocks gained.
The market breadth was negative, with 1,332 stocks advancing compared to 1,416 scrips on the decline, while 196 stocks remained unchanged.
Among gainers on the Sensex were ICICI Bank, up 2.67 percent at Rs.1,050.80; Jindal Steel, up 2.33 percent at Rs.706.35; HDFC Bank, up 1.94 percent at Rs.2,118; and Reliance Communications, up 1.72 percent at Rs.133.25.
Top Sensex losers included ITC, down 2.16 percent at Rs.171.75; ONGC, down 2.02 percent at Rs.1,134.15; Bajaj Auto, down 1.75 percent at Rs.1,296.80; and Reliance Industries, down 1.2 percent at Rs.969.75.
According to data available with market regulator SEBI, foreign institutional investors sold scrips worth $45.85 million Thursday.
Most other Asian stock markets were trading with a negative bias tracking bourses in US and Europe, which closed in the red overnight.
The Chinese Shanghai Composite index closed 2.92 percent lower at 2,677.65 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng shed 1.7 percent to end at 24,003.7 points.
The Japanese Nikkei closed 1.13 percent down at 10,437.31 points.
Key indices of European stock markets were trading lower with the gloom in global bourses weighing on traders’ minds.
Around mid-day, the German DAX was ruling 0.81 percent down at 7,025.19 points, while the French CAC 40 was trading 0.38 percent lower at 3,961.73 points.
The UK’s FTSE was ruling 1.44 percent down at 5,980.47 points.
