Nifty holds 6,500; Oil & Gas scrips weigh

Reliance Industries and ONGC down 1-1.5% among the top losers of the hour

Markets continue to trade in positive territory with the Nifty hovering around the 6,500 levels since the start of today's trade.

At 1130 hrs, the Sensex was up 43 points and the Nifty with an 18 point gain stood at 6,501.

In the broader markets, the mid and smallcap indices were resilient with a 0.7% gain each, outperforming the BSE benchmark index which was marginally higher by 0.1%.

Oil & Gas index down 0.8% and FMCG index down 0.2% were the only indices in red.

Metal and Realty indices gaining 1.6% each were the top sectoral gainers along with Power index up 1%.

Oil & Gas major Reliance Industries and ONGC down 1-1.5% were the major Sensex losers.

Sun Pharma, ITC, Hero MotoCorp, Dr Reddys Lab, Bharti Airtel and NTPC down 0.3-1% were the only others scrips in red among Sensex-30.

IT major Wipro up 2.5% was the top gainer. TCS and Infosys added 0.3% each.

Metal names like Hindalco, Tata Steel, Sesa Sterlite gained 2-2.5%.

SBI, Tata Motors and Tata Power up 1-1.5% were the other prominent gainers.

In individual names, TVS Motor Company traded higher by 5% at Rs 97.80, extending its over 8% rally in past one week, on back of heavy volumes on the bourses.

Sunil Hitech Engineers rallied 13% to Rs 69.30 after its board has allotted 1.35 million shares of the company upon conversion of warrants to the promoter group.

Claris Lifesciencesgained 3% at Rs 187 after the pharmaceutical company announced to buyback of up to 9.25 million equity shares at a price of Rs 250 per share through the tender offer process.

IL&FS Engineering and Construction Company rallied 6% to Rs 38.80 after the company said it has bagged a Rs 69.97 crore contract for construction of elevated depot cum workshop for the Rapid Metro Rail Gurgaon.

The market breadth was positive due to strength in broader markets. 1,349 stocks advanced while 939 stocks declined on BSE.