Flat opening for Nifty

The Sensex has opened in the green with the index gaining 23 points at 18,113 and the Nifty started flat at 5,430. In the broader markets, the smallcaps are flat at 8,362 while the midcaps have started in the negative, slipping 0.1%

Among the sectoral indices, IT and Metal up 0.2% and 0.1% respectively are the only sectors that started in the positive. Auto, Realty, FMCG and Capital Goods down 0.2% - 0.6% are the laggards in the opening trades.

The Asian markets are trading mixed after sluggish leads from Wall Street and renewed violence in Egypt hindered demand.

Japan's Nikkei Stock Average is trading down 0.2% at 10,433 while the Jakarta Composite  is up 1% at 3,481. Markets in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam were shut for the Lunar New Year holidays.

Back home, Cipla up 1%, Tata Steel, Infosys, BHEL, Sterlite, TCS, Hindalco, Bharti Airtel and     NTPC gaining 0.5% - 0.7% are the top gainers on the Sensex in the opening tardes.

Reliance Communications, Wipro down 1% are the top losers followed by ITC, Jindal Steel,Tata Motors, RIL and Maruti Suzuki shedding 0.1% - 0.5%

The market breadth is positive. of the total 1204 stocks traded on the BSE, 609 has advanced while 547 has declined.