Markets end marginally higher

The benchmark indices closed marginally in the green. The markets touched their highest levels in 19 months during the course of the day, only to shed weight towards close. The Sensex finally ended at 17,401, higher by 40 points, and the Nifty closed at 5186, up 7 points.

Consumer durables were the top gainers. Metals gained as the LMEX, a gauge of six metals traded on the London Metal Exchange, rose overnight. And power stocks continued their good run.

The leading Sensex gainers were Reliance Infrastructure (stronger by Rs 31 or 2.8% at Rs 1,131), Hindalco (higher by Rs 4 or 2.7% at Rs 162) and ICICI Bank (up Rs 14 or 1.7% at Rs 877). Bharti Airtel, HDFC and NTPC were the other major gainers.

Sun Pharma was the top loser on the Sensex, weakening by Rs 30 or 1.9% at Rs 1533. Wipro shed Rs 12 or 1.8% at Rs 681 and DLF lost Rs 5 or 1.3% at Rs 365.

The market breadth was strong. Out of 2901 stocks traded on the BSE, there were 1859 advancing stocks as against 965 declines.

Sesa Goa topped the value charts on the BSE with a total turnover of Rs 134.83 crore. This was followed by Tata Steel (Rs 106.13 crore), Suzlon (Rs 104.49 crore), Tata Motors (Rs 68.54 crore) and Reliance (Rs 67.85 crore).

Ispat Industries led the volume charts with trades of 16.26 million. It was followed by Suzlon (11.53 million), Unitech (4.47 million), IFCI (4.40 million) and Reliance Natural Resources (3.59 million).