Markets head higher

The markets have gained further ground due to strength in realty, IT and oil stocks. The realty sector has bounched back nearly 6% after receiving severe drubbing in the past two weeks. The IT and oil sectors are up 3% and 2% respectively. The Sensex is quoting at 15,733, stronger by 328 points and the Nifty is at 4657, higher by 93 points.

The leading Sensex gainers are Jaiprakash (higher by 6% at Rs 206), Hindalco (stronger by 4% at Rs Rs 114), and DLF (up 4% at Rs 351).

Infosys and ICICI Bank have gained between 4% and 5% each, while Reliance and Sterlite have added between 3% and 4% each.

On the loser's side, Tata Power shed nearly 2% to Rs 1,284, Grasim gave up 1% to Rs 2,148 and Sun Pharma lost nearly 1% and is trading at Rs 1,373.

The market breadth is strong. Out of 2,428 stocks traded on the BSE, there are 1,398 advancing stocks as against 975 declines.

VALUE & VOLUME TOPPERS

Reliance topped the value charts with a turnover of Rs 111.05 crore, followed by Suzlon (Rs 92.51 crore), Tata Steel (Rs 76.77 crore), State Bank of India (Rs 72.68 crore) and Aban Offshore (Rs 67.44 crore).

Suzlon leads the volume charts with trades of around 16.63 million shares, followed by Unitech (7.65 million), Reliance Natural Resources (6 million) HDIL (1.79 million) and Tata Steel (1.73 million)
.