Sensex touches new high; automobile stock on roll (Roundup)

In a healthy trading session, a benchmark index of Indian equities markets Monday touched a new high of 28,205.71 points -- surpassing its previous high of 28,126.48 points reached on Nov 12.

The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) closed trade at 28,177.88 points -- a new record closing high, up 131.22 points or 0.47 percent from its previous day's close of 28,046.66 points.

Healthy buying was observed in automobile, consumer durables, oil and gas, bank and power sectors, while selling pressure was seen in metal and healthcare segments.

The Sensex touched a high of 28,205.71 points and a low of 27,921.34 points in the intra-trade.

"Indian equity markets witnessed a volatile session today (Monday) but benchmark indices closed at their intraday highs," said Kiran Kumar Kavikondala, director and chief executive, WealthRays Securities.

Weakness in Asian markets and weak Japan GDP numbers kept markets under pressure. Equity markets rose post-trade data with benchmark Nifty breaking 840 supported by PSB major SBI."

India's trade deficit in October increased by 26.06 percent at $13.35 billion, from $10.59 billion in the corresponding month of last year, government data showed Monday.

However, on a month-on-month basis the deficit declined by 6.31 at $13.35 billion, from $14.25 billion in September 2014.

The S&P metal index lost 62.93 points and healthcare index went down by 22.44 points.

The auto index zoomed up 266.87 points, consumer durables index rose by 89.78 points, oil and gas index was higher by 89.56 points, banks index gained 83.16 points and power went up by 32.66 points.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also closed in the positive territory. It closed trade 40.85 points or 0.49 percent up at 8,430.75 points.

The major Sensex gainers were: State Bank of India, up 5.44 percent at Rs.2,940.15; Tata Motors, up 4.07 percent at Rs.545.10; Hero MotoCorp, up 2.15 percent at Rs.3,027.70; NTPC, up 1.71 percent at Rs.145.65; and Reliance Industries, up 1.47 percent at Rs.983.35.

The major Sensex losers were: ICICI Bank, down 1.27 percent at Rs.1,673.65; HDFC Bank, down 1.27 percent at Rs.1,673.65; HDFC Bank, down 1.05 percent at Rs.919.55; Coal India, down 0.95 percent at Rs.353.10; Sesa Sterlite, down 0.92 percent at Rs.237.35; and Sun Pharma, down 0.46 percent at Rs.882.45.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei index was down 2.96 percent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was 1.21 percent lower, and Shanghai's Composite Index slipped 0.15 percent.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 was up 0.20 percent, France's CAC 40 was higher by 0.37 percent, and Germany's DAX Index gained 0.31 percent.