Gains intact, Sensex up 150 points

The markets are firm in noon trades with the BSE Sensex having gained 151 points at 18,563 and the S&P CNX Nifty at 5,574, up 48 points. The market sentiment is fairly positive taking cues from the Asian markets. The Shanghai Composite index is at 2,796, up 1.5%, the Hang Seng index is at 21,869, up 1% and the Nikkei has gained 0.4% at 9,963.

DLF is the top gainer on the Sensex at Rs 226, up 2.4% and is followed by ONGC, Bharti Airtel, Reliance Industries and Mahindra & Mahindra, up 1-2% each.

The top losers on the Sensex are Wipro,down 0.6%, closely followed by Tata Power, HDFC, Infosys and Hindustan Unilever .

SKS Microfinance is locked at the 10% lower circuit at Rs 529 after having ralled 71% in the past four trading sessions. The stock has rallied almost 94% from its intra-day low of Rs 314 on July 7, after the government's proposal of a law to would empower the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to regulate the microfinance sector.

Among the sectoral indices, BSE Realty has gained the most at Rs 2,148, up 1.6%. BSE Consumer Durables stands next having gained 1.5%.
The top gainers include Gitanjali Gems (having been included in the F&O segment), Blue Star, Rajesh Exports, VIP Industries and Titan Industries whereas Bajaj Electricals bucks the trend at Rs 251, down 1.1%.

BSE Realty, BSE Oil& Gas, BSE PSU and BSE Bankex are also witnessing positive trades.

BSE IT has bounced back after yesterday's losses and is currently at Rs 5,928, having gained 0.1% but Infosys is yet to bounce back as it continues in the red, having shed 0.5% at Rs 2,780.

The broader markets are as firm as the bourses, with the mid-cap index  having advanced 1% at 6,968, and the small-cap index at 8,340, up 0.9%.

The overall market breadth is refreshingly positive with 1,755 stocks advancing and 810 declining on the BSE.