Sensex rises 102 pts on Europe cues

Domestic stocks took on more strength on cues from Europe as Sensex rallied 102 points to hit a three-week high of 28,179 ahead of a meeting between the government and banks on bad loans. But caution set in after some key banks are due to announce their results from Tuesday. The global markets ruled higher on Monday on expectations that China will unveil fresh economy-boosting measures. Buying across the board led by oil and gas, banks and automobile, carried forward the momentum. The 30-share Sensex opened higher and settled at 28,179, a gain of 102 points, or 0.4 per cent. The index had lost 53 points on Friday due to heightened bets of a US central bank increasing the borrowing rates.

The NSE 50-share closed up 15.90 points, or 0.18 per cent, at 8,708.95.

"Early sluggishness was wiped off on positive cues from European markets and after PSU banks added further gains ahead of a meeting of senior management of banks today to discuss the bad loans issue in specific sectors, including steel, power and infrastructure," said Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services.

Buying picked up here after Asian shares climbed to two-week highs and European shares advanced in their early deals as investors focused on fresh economic data and corporate earnings, brokers said.

According to global financial services major American Merrill Lynch, there is room for a 50 bps rate cut by the Reserve Bank over the next few months, with 25 bps each likely in February and April.

Investors remained cautious ahead of a key week for quarterly results for companies such as HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and a few more.

Stocks of automakers evoked good buying support on hopes of pick-up in demand during the festive and wedding season.

State-owned ONGC emerged as the star performer and closed up by 4.61 per cent after the company said its board will on Thursday consider issuing a bonus share to increase liquidity ahead of government disinvestment.

Other big gainers were Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, Coal India, Lupin, SBI, HDFC, Maruti Suzuki and M&M, rising by up to 2.67 per cent.

Foreign portfolio investors net sold shares worth Rs 272.91 crore last Friday, provisional data showed.

The BSE oil and gas index jumped the most by gaining 1.67 per cent, followed by PSU (1.54 per cent), auto (0.84 per cent), banking (0.60 per cent) and metal (0.20 per cent).

The broader market offered a mixed trend, with BSE small-cap up 0.52 per cent and mid-cap shedding 0.13 per cent.

Asian stocks ended higher as China's Shanghai Composite climbed 1.21 per cent to the highest close since January 8 amid optimism that the government will boost infrastructure spend and speed up overhaul of state-owned companies. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.98 per cent and Japan's Nikkei 0.29 per cent.

Key indices in Europe like France CAC, Germany's DAX and the UK's FTSE all firmed up.