Markets end in the positive

The Sensex has ended at 17,198, higher by 67 points, and the Nifty has closed at 5,111, up 20 points (provisional closing).

____________________________________________________________________________

(Updated at 1510 pm)

The past one hour has been volatile, with the Nifty gyrating on either side of the 5,100 mark. The Sensex is now quoting at 17,197, up 66 points, and the Nifty is at 5,102, up 12 points. The BSE oil & gas and FMCG indices are up 1% each.

Hero Honda is the leading Sensex gainer, higher by 2% at Rs 1,723. ITC gained 1.9% at Rs 268 and Maruti added 1.4% at Rs 1,632.

Hindustan Unilever, ACC and HDFC Bank added a little more than a percent each.

DLF is the major Sensex loser, down 2.7% at Rs 362. Reliance Communications has lost 1.5% at Rs 170 and Jaiprakash Associates has shed 1% at Rs 225.

The market breadth has turned negative. Out of 2,804 shares traded on the BSE, 1,273 have advanced and 1,455 have declined so far.