Markets end on a positive note

Sensex up 75pts

The Sensex ended (provisional) at 17,209, up 75 points and the Nifty at 5,216, up 25 points.

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(updated at 1133 hours)

Markets have opened in the green this morning. The Sensex has opened at 17,170 - up 37 points. Nifty is up 11 points at 5,202.

Meanwhile, Wall Street gained as upbeat corporate results outweighed a weaker-than-expected report on first-quarter economic growth. The Dow added 23 points to 13,228. Nasdaq and S&P 500 also moved up in trades.

BSE FMCG has added 0.5% to 4,794, followed by PSU shares. Bankex has advanced 0.4% to 11,738 buyoed by gains in heavyweights - ICICI Bank and Axis Bank.

Meanwhile, some selling pressure can be witnessed in the IT index - the index is down 0.21% at 5,556.

Maruti Suzuki is up 1% at Rs 1,392 ahead of its numbers which are expected later today. Metal shares have gained smartly. Jindal Steel and Sterlite have added 0.8% each to Rs 486 and Rs 105, respectively.

ICICI Bank has added 0.8% at Rs 868. HDFC Bank is also in green. Among other key gainers are ITC, Hero MOtoCorp and Mahindra & Mahindra.

However, TCS has slipped marginally in trades. Tata Power, Coal India, Larsen & Toubro are also trading in the negative zone.

BSE market breadth is positive. Out of 1,273 stocks traded, 709 shares have advanced while 509 shares have delcined.