Sensex up over 400 points powered by heavyweights

HDFC, L&T, ICICI Bank and RIL among the top gainers

Markets edged higher in early noon trades on the back of positive global cues, heading for a second straight session of gains after hitting a nearly 2-1/2 week low on Tuesday.  At 1315 hrs, the Sensex was up 425 points at 27,057 and the Nifty edged higher by126 points to trade at 8,102.

Buying was visible in the broader markets with both the mid and smallcap indices up nearly 2% each, outperforming the BSE benchmark index which gained over 1%.

The rupee improved marginally and was trading at 61 as compared to the previous close of 60.92/93. Almost all Asian currencies fall against USD.

Sectors & Stocks

All the sectoral indices were in green with the Realty index leading gains up over 4%.

Real estate companies rallied on reports that the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2013 is likely to come up for consideration in Rajya Sabha in the forthcoming Winter Session. Unitech, Housing Development and Infrastructure (HDIL), Indiabulls Real Estate, Oberoi Realty, DLF, D B Realty and Anant Raj Industries were up 4-11%

Power, Oil & Gas, Metal, Health Care, Capital Goods, Consumer Durables, Bankex and Auto indices surged between 1-3%.

Infosys, M&M and HUL down 0.5-0.8% were the only names in red among Sensex-30.

Among the ones leading gains were HDFC, Dr Reddys, Wipro, BHEL, Tata Motors, Coal India, Hero MotoCorp and Hindalco up 2-3%.

Sun Pharma gained over 2% after the drug maker said it has entered into a licensing agreement with Merck & Co Inc for investigational therapeutic antibody candidate, Tildrakizumab to be used for treatment of plaque psoriasis, a skin ailment
National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) has surged 6% to Rs 642, extending its previous day’s rally on NSE, on back of heavy volumes.

8K Miles Software Services was locked in upper circuit at Rs 389, extending its previous day’s 8% rally on BSE, after Sundaram BNP Paribas Mutual Fund bought nearly two percentage points stake in the internet software and services provider through open market.

The market breadth was positive on BSE. 1997 stocks advanced while 688 stocks declined.

Global Markets

Asian markets were largely in green after the U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday renewed its pledge to keep interest rates near zero for a "considerable time."

Hang Seng down 1% along with Kospi and Straits Times down 0.7% and 0.04% were the only exceptions in today's trade.