Markets continue lacklustre trades

Markets continued to trade near the dotted line. Indices were directionless as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met TV editors today.

The Sensex was down 12 points at 18,262. Nifty was down five points at 5,476.

BSE metal index continued to shine with gains of 1% at 15,915. Healthcare and FMCG stocks were in green.

However, auto and realty stocks were in red.

BSE mid-cap and small-cap indices outperformed the benchmark. Mid-cap index was up 0.2% at 6,714.Small-cap index jumped 1% to 8,236.




Markets continued its lacklustre run this morning on cues from global peers.

The Sensex was up 28 points at 18,301 after moving between 18,349 and 18,239. The Nifty was up marginally at 5,485.

Most of the sectoral indices continued to trade in green. BSE metal index surged 1.5% to 15,994 on heavyweight - Tata Steel.

Tata Steel jumped 3.5% to Rs 638 after its net profit in Q3 increased two-fold. Jindal Steel gained 2.5% to Rs 665. Sterlite was up 0.5% at Rs 165.

Meanwhile, the auto space was weak as the index dipped 0.5% to 8,839. IT and realty were also in red.

Larsen & Toubro surged 2% to Rs 1,656 after winning order from GSECL for Rs 1100 crore.

Jaipraksh Associates, Cipla, Hero Honda, SBI and Bharti AIrtel were the other gainers.

Meanwhile, some banking names were in the red. HDFC Bank slipped 0.6% to Rs 2,098. HDFC was down 2% at Rs 632.

Hindalco was down 1.2% at Rs 210.

Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and DLF were down over 1% each.

IT stocks declined. TCS was down 1% at Rs 1,087. Wipro and Infosys declined marginally to Rs 422 and Rs 3,093, respectively.

Airline stocks were down. Jet Airways slipped 1% to Rs 483. Kingfisher Airlines was flat at Rs 45. Spice Jet declined 0.2% to Rs 100.

BSE market breadth was positive. Out of 2,290 stocks traded, 1,446 advanced while 759 declined in trades.

Fertiliser stocks rallied on hopes of a rise in subsidy payout. Coromandel Fertilisers, Zuari Industries, Fact, GSFC, SPIC, Chambal Fertilisers and RCF are trading higher by 2-9%.