Markets open firm on US growth optimism

Broader markets positive, moving inline with benchmark indices

Markets opened on a positive note this Friday on hopes of growth recovery in US after the number of Americans who filed for unemployment benefits declined to a six-week low, showing further improvement in the labour market.

 

The Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensex gained 65.13 points to open at 19,478.67 while the National Stock Exchange's Nifty rose 20.35 points at 5,883.65. 

 

Asian markets traded mixed with China's Shanghai Composite Index up 0.01% to 2,325 , Singapore's Straits Times dropping 0.16% to 3,293 , Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.1% to 23,014 while Japan's Nikkei gained 2% to 12,219.

 

The broader markets gained with mid-caps and small- caps rising 0.2% on BSE.

 

The market breadth was positive. Out of 449 stocks traded , 256 stocks advaced compared to 63 declines on BSE.