Sensex ends a tad higher; metal stocks gain (Roundup)

A day after it plunged 162 points or 0.57 percent, a benchmark index of Indian equities markets closed Wednesday's trade session a tad higher.

The barometer index ended the day's trade up 48.14 points or 0.17 percent on back of healthy buying in metal, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and reality sectors.

However, selling pressure was seen in bank, healthcare and technology, entertainment and media (TECK) stocks.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 28,321.58 points, closed trade at 28,386.19 points, up 48.14 points or 0.17 percent from the previous day's close at 28,338.05 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 28,470.15 points and a low of 28,261.31 points in the intra-trade.

The S&P BSE metal index gained 120.70 points, FMCG index was up 81.26 points and realty index was higher by 64.39 points.

However, bank index moved down by 62.95 points, healthcare index fell by 51.20 points and TECK index was lower by 25.19 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also ended the day's trade in the positive territory. It gained 12.65 points or 0.15 percent at 8,475.75 points.

The major Sensex gainers were: GAIL, up 2.75 percent at Rs.490.25; Sesa Sterlite, up 2.34 percent at Rs.240.75; BHEL, up 2.26 percent at Rs.271.20; Hindalco Inds, up 2.21 percent at Rs.169.15; and ITC, up 2.14 percent at Rs.363.30.

The major Sensex losers were: Bharti Airtel, down 2.43 percent at Rs.393.35; ICICI Bank, down 1.45 percent at Rs.1,711.95; Bajaj Auto, down 1.08 percent at Rs.2,612.40; Reliance Inds, down 0.50 percent at Rs.987.35; and Maruti, down 0.28 percent at Rs.3,280.40.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei index was down 0.14 percent, Shanghai's Composite Index was higher by 1.45 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.12 percent

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was up 0.22 percent. France's CAC 40 was higher by 0.01 percent and Germany's DAX Index gained 0.66 percent.