Equity indices trade higher; metals, auto stocks top gainers

Extending gains for the second consecutive session, key Indian equity indices on Friday traded on a higher note as positive cues from the Asian markets and value buying in metals, auto and banking stocks gave a boost to investors' sentiments.

Top gainers on the BSE market breadth were Tata Steel, Maruti Suzuki, HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel and SunPharma.

At 1 p.m., the wider Nifty50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) traded higher by 87.20 points or 0.86 per cent at 10,253.90 points.

The barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE reclaimed the psychologically important 33,000-mark.

The BSE Sensex, which opened at 33,034.20 points, traded at 33,219.10 points -- up 269.89 points or 0.82 per cent -- from its previous close.

The Sensex touched a high of 33,245.87 points and a low of 33,034.20 during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was bullish -- 1,621 advances and 895 declines.

"Sensex opened positive and regained the milestone 33,OOO mark once again following cues from Asian Indices. All sectoral indices are in the green, led by consumer durables, bank, metal and auto," Dhruv Desai, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls, told IANS.

On Thursday, bargain hunting by investors and robust buying in auto, consumer durables and capital goods stocks lifted the benchmark indices.

The NSE Nifty50 edged higher by 122.60 points or 1.22 per cent to close at 10,166.70 points, while the BSE Sensex closed at 32,949.21 points -- up 352.03 points or 1.08 per cent.

--IANS

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