Sensex, Nifty at nearly 1-wk highs; FMCG, consumer durables up

Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty today closed at their highest levels in about a week aided by gains in FMCG, consumer durables and metal shares, amid firm global cues.
After a positive start, the BSE Sensex dropped to 20,079.82 intra-day on selling in view of persistent capital outflows. However, the 30-share index recovered and touched 20,358.19, before ending at 20,310.74 following strong Asian cues. It gained 49.71 points, or 0.25 per cent over Wednesday.
The Sensex has gained 101.48 points in three days. Before that, it shed 1,100 points as the index fell for six days in seven. Today's closing value is the highest for Sensex since 20,513.85 on January 31.

The FMCG index gained the most among BSE sectoral indices by rising 1.36 per cent as HUL and ITC jumped. Consumer durables sector was second best performer as it gained one per cent. Metal index gained 0.92 per cent as Tata Steel, Coal India and Hindalco shares inched higher.
However, losses in ICICI Bank, SBI, Infosys and TCS counters capped the benchmark's rise.
The 50-share NSE Nifty rose by 13.90 points, or 0.23 per cent, to end at 6,036.30, in its second day of rise. This was the barometer's highest close since 6,089.50 on January 31.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) sold shares worth Rs 576.20 crore yesterday as per provisional data.

Globally, Asian shares finished higher as investors weighed data showing service industries growth in US economy against a jobs report that is said to have missed estimates.
Barring Japan's Nikkei, indices in South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan ended up. Stock markets in mainland China remain closed until tomorrow for Lunar New Year holiday.
European markets were also trading higher in early trades as indices in France, Germany and the UK inched up by 0.27 per cent to 0.54 per cent.
US stocks dipped yesterday as technical support offset the latest batch of mixed data, which failed to lift sentiment after a string of soft economic indicators earlier in the week.