Sensex off record highs, Nifty maintains 8,800-level

The S&P BSE Sensex pared its initial surge but was trading still higher by 235.10 points in late morning trade, tracking higher global cues amid the European Central Bank (ECB) announcing a bigger-than-expected stimulus programme.
Brokers said that apart from robust rally in global markets following the ECB's stimulus measures to kickstart the eurozone economy, positive investor sentiments in view of pre-budget optimism helped the Indian equities attract fund inflows.
Bouts of profit-booking witnessed in key Metal, consumer durables, realty, power and IT segments and shares of midCap and smallcap companies.
However, shares were seen consolidating its levels in capital goods, auto, banking, healthcare and FMCG sectors.

Earlier, the Sensex resumed higher at 28,189.45 and surged to a record high of 29,408.73 and low of 29,189.33, before quoting at 29,241.12 at 1045 hours -- up 235.10 points, or 0.81 per cent, from its previous close.
The CNX 50-share Nifty also touched a lifetime peak of 8,863.25, and was quoting at 8,819.25 at 1045 hrs, up 57.85 points, or 0.66 per cent.

Meanwhile, Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 592.79 crore on yesterday as per provisional data.
Major gainers were Bhartiairtel (2.87 pct), HDFC (2.51 pct), HDFC bank (2.13 pct), L&T (1.94 pct) and Tata Motors (1.71 pct).

Notable losers were GAIL (1.80 pct), BHEL (0.99 pct), Coal India (0.85 pct), Infosys 0.82 and Tata Steel (0.53 pct).
Asian markets rose after ECB's stimulus move. Key benchmark indices in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan were trading higher by 0.75 pct to 1.39 pct.