Markets edge higher as heavyweights gain

Counters like ICICI Bank, Infosys, L&T and HDFC lead morning gains while oil&gas scrips buck trend

After a brief dip into the red, markets edged higher in morning deals on the back of buying in counters like ICICI Bank, Infosys, L&T and HDFC. At 1030 hrs, the Sensex was up 78 points at 18,939 and the Nifty was up 27 points at 5,720.

Meanwhile, in the broader markets, the midcap index advanced 0.5% and the smallcap index gained 0.2%, underperforming the BSE benchmark index.

The gains in the midcap index was led by Suzlon Energy which surged 17% on back of heavy volumes erasing part of yesterday’s about 34% fall on BSE. The other major gainers were Indian Info, Core Projects, Den Network, Jain Irrigation and Indiabulls Finance up 1-9%.

On the currency front, rupee today lost 30 paise to Rs 54.66 against the US dollar in early trade on the Interbank Foreign Exchange due to appreciation of the American currency against other currencies overseas.
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(Updated at 0926hrs)

The markets started in the green with the Sensex up 55 points at 18,916 and the Nifty added 16 points to start the day around the 5,708 levels.

In the broader markets, the midcap and smallcap indices gained between 0.1-0.2%, almost in line with the BSE benchmark index.

Overnight, in the US makets, stocks ended flat on Thursday, giving up modest gains late in the session, denying the Dow a chance to inch closer to all-time highs.The Dow Jones industrial average shed 0.15%, to 14,054 at the close. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index lost 0.09%, to 1,515. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 0.07%, to end at 3,160.

Asian shares edged down on Friday, with sentiment burdened by worries over the economic fallout from Italy's political stalemate, the likelihood of U.S. "sequestration" spending cuts, and caution ahead of China's manufacturing data.

But renewed confidence that major central banks will keep taking stimulative steps to support their economies, which lifted a global equities index overnight, underpinned prices.The MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.2%, after ending February up 0.5%.Japan's Nikkei stock average opened down 0.8%.

Among the sectoral indices, Consumer Durables and Capital Goods gained over 1% each in opening trades. The other sectors in the green were Metal, FMCG, IT and Auto indices up 0.3-0.7%. On the other hand, Health Care, Oil & Gas, PSU and Realty index started with a red tick, losing 0.1-1%.

The top gainers among the Sensex-30 were Jindal Steel and Maruti Suzuki up 2% followed by L&T, Wipro, ICICI Bank, Infosys, Coal India and Sterlite adding 1% each.

Among the losers were ONGC, Sun Pharma and NTPC down 1% each. Oil & Gas and index heavyweight, Reliance Industries slipped 0.5%.

Hero MotoCorp, Hindalco, HDFC Bank, Cipla, Gail India, TCS and Bajaj Auto down 0.6-0.8% were the other major losers.

In individual stocks,United Spirits rallied 6% to Rs 1,943 in opening deals after Competition Commission of India approved UK major Diageo Plc's proposed majority stake purchase in the company. Under the deal, Diageo would acquire up to 53.4% stake in Vijay Mallya-led United Spirits, one of the largest spirits firm, within five years.

The market breadth was positive. 610 stocks advanced while 407 stocks declined on the BSE.