Sensex ends 4-day losing streak; up 30 points

The Sensex snapped a four-day losing streak to edge higher today, rebounding as Tata Steel surged after its March-quarter operating profit beat analyst estimates and as recently beaten-down blue-chips such as Larsen & Toubro recovered. Sentiment improved after foreign institutional investors extended their record net purchases of Indian stocks to a 26th consecutive session yesterday, despite worries the US Fed might unwind its stimulus earlier than expected.

Still, doubts persist about how long foreign investors will continue to buy, while investors are also growing wary ahead of January-March economic growth data next week. These are likely to confirm whether the economy has gained some traction on the government's reform moves and the central bank's rate cuts. Both the Sensex and Nifty posted their first weekly fall in six, ending a powerful rally since mid-April.

The benchmark Sensex rose 0.15 per cent, or 30 points, to end at 19,704.33 but was down 2.9 per cent for the week, its biggest weekly fall since the week ended March 24. The broader Nifty rose 0.28 per cent, or 16.50 points, to end at 5,983.55, but ended 3.3 per cent lower for the week, also its biggest weekly fall since late March.

Tata Steel shares rose 4.5 per cent after its January-March quarterly operating profit beat analysts' estimates despite posting its third straight quarterly loss yesterday.

Larsen & Toubro climbed 2.7 per cent after falling 12 per cent over the previous two sessions on lingering disappointment over its January-March profit and outlook.

Shares in United Breweries Holdings jumped nearly 10 per cent after news channels CNBC-TV18 and ET Now reported the Karnataka High Court has allowed UBHL to sell its shares in group company United Spirits to Diageo Plc to complete the long-pending deal.

However, drug makers continued to reel from individual events.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries fell 3.7 per cent after its subsidiary Taro Pharmaceutical Industries March-quarter results came below estimates.

Shares in Wockhardt slumped six per cent continuing their fall after the US Food and Drug Administration imposed an 'import alert' on a plant operated by the generic drugmaker.

Ranbaxy Laboratories fell 1.2 per cent, ending down a for a second consecutive session after majority shareholder Daiichi Sankyo Co said it believed former shareholders of the Indian company hid information regarding US regulatory probes.