Mumbai, July 21 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities Wednesday noon moved further up from its opening trade highs and touched the 18,000 mark amid stable cues from other Asian markets.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,873.92 points, was ruling at 18,000.78 points, 122.64 points or 0.69 percent up from its previous close at 17,878.14 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was trading at 5,404.95 points, up 0.69 percent from its previous close at 5,368 points.
Broader markets indices were also in the green, with the BSE midcap index 0.55 percent up and the BSE smallcap index 0.7 percent higher.
Metal, FMCG and auto stocks were doing well, while healthcare scrips saw some selling.
The market breadth was positive, with 1,726 scrips advancing, compared to 997 stocks declining, and 116 remaining unchanged.
Other major Asian markets also saw moderate gains, tracking Tuesday’s rally in the US markets.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 0.55 percent at 20,375.48 points with pessimism over a drop in China’s economic growth waning.
The Chinese Shanghai Composite index was also up 0.61 percent at 2,544.22 points, while the South Korean Kospi ended with a 0.69 percent gain at 1,748.78 points.
The Japanese Nikkei was marginally in the red towards closing bell at 9,296.46 points.
