Sensex starts New Year on firm note, rises 53 points

Stock markets opened on a positive note on the first trading day of 2014 with the benchmark BSE Sensex rising nearly 53 points in early trade on increased buying by funds and retail investors.
The 30-share index rose 52.62 points, or 0.25 per cent, to trade higher at 21,223.30 points with all the sectoral indices led by metal and capital goods trading in positive zone with gains up to 0.53 per cent.
The Sensex had gained 27.67 points in the previous session.
The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty rose 12.80 points, or 0.20 per cent, to 6,316.80.
Brokers said sentiments remained firm on sustained buying by funds and retail investors largely in tandem with record closing on the US markets after upbeat economic data in yesterday's trade.

They said, however, closure of Asian markets for a public holiday restricted activity on the domestic bourses here.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at another record high by gaining 0.44 per cent in yesterday's trade.