Markets trade range bound

After a good start, the markets have shed a few points and is trading in a closed range. The Sensex is at 20,565, up 158 points while the Nifty added 47 points and is at 6,193. In the broader markets, the midcap index has inched higher at 1% while the smallcap is stable at 0.9%. The benchmark index has slipped and is underperforming at 0.6%.

Among the sectoral indices, Realty continues to lead the chart closely followed by Consumer Durables. Earlier gainer, Metal index have pared some of its gains and is at 0.9%. Power, IT and Bankex are some of the least gainers and is at the bottom of the chart.

The gainers on the Sensex are Jaiprakash Associates up 3%,Hindalco,Sterlite  gaining nearly 2% and Maruti Suzuki, Wipro,Tata Motors and L&T adding 1% each.

There are no losers recorded on the Sensex for the second consecutive hour.

The market breadth is extremely positive. Of the total 2699 stocks traded, 1937 stocks have advanced while 680 have declined on the BSE.