Markets continue firm trades, auto stocks surge

Weakness can be seen in IT index; All major IT stocks down over 1%

Markets continued to trade on a positive note on the day of the F&O expiry. The Sensex has touched a high of 19,350 and is now up 153 points at 19,332. Nifty is up 62 points at 5,898.

In Asia, Japan's Nikkei share average inched up to a near five-year high, but the mood was tempered by sharp losses for Canon Inc and Nintendo Co Ltd as they failed to meet investors' expectations of strong earnings guidance.

BSE auto index has surged 2% at 10,672. Oil & gas index is up 2% as well. Among other key gainers are PSU, power and bankex. However, weakness can be seen in the BSE IT index, which is down 1.5% at 5,713.

Meanwhile, the rupee appreciated by 14 paise to 54.24 against the US dollar in early trade as the Interbank Foreign Exchange today on increased selling of the American currency by exporters.

Dr Reddy's has surged 4% at Rs 1980. NTPC, Tata Motors and Maruti are up 2-3% each. Among other gainers are ONGC and market heavyweight - Reliance.

However, TCS, Wipro and Infosys led the losers list. The stocks were down 1.2-1.7% each. HDFC Bank, HUL and BHEL were also in red.

The other notable movers included, Jet Airways (India) has soared 12% to Rs 642 in early morning deals after its board approved the 24% stake sale to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways for about Rs 2,058 crore.

Mahindra and Mahindra Financial Services has soared 11% to a new high of Rs 230 after reporting a healthy 43% year-on-year (yoy) growth in its consolidated net profit at Rs 346 crore for the four quarter ended March 2013 (Q4) on the back of growth in loan disbursements in the semi-urban and rural areas.