Indian markets continued to trade higher towards closing on Friday led by metal and power stocks amid hopes of further reforms. At 15.04 pm, the Sensex was trading up 159.37 points or 0.83% at 19,330.28 with 24 components gaining. Meanwhile, the Nifty was trading higher by 47.70 points or 0.82% at 5,872.70 with 40 components gaining.

The 30-share benchmark index, BSE Sensex opened with a gain of 58.79 points or 0.31% at 19,229.70, while the broad based NSE Nifty started with a rise of 11.00 points or 0.19%, at 5,836.

Sensex Movers

Oil & Natural Gas Corporation contributed rise of 31.41 points in the Sensex. It was followed by Housing Development Finance Corporation (31.36 points), I C I C I Bank (23.85 points), State Bank Of India (12.28 points) and Bharti Airtel (12.01 points).

However, Hindustan Unilever contributed fall of 12.33 points in the Sensex. It was followed by Tata Motors (8.18 points), Infosys (3.47 points), Maruti Suzuki India (2.22 points) and ACC (1.15 points).

Biggest gainers in the 30-share index were Jindal Steel & Power (5.07%), Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (4.75%), Bharat Heavy Electricals (4.36%), Sterlite Industries (India) (2.62%), Bharti Airtel (2.41%), and Hindalco Industries (2.38%).

On the other hand, Hindustan Unilever (1.75%), Tata Motors (1.35%), Coal India (1.07%), Bajaj Auto (1.00%), Maruti Suzuki India (0.84%), and Infosys (0.24%) were the major losers in the Sensex.

Sectors in Limelight

The Metal index was at 10,331.63, up by 186.70 points or by 1.84%. The major gainers were Jindal Steel & Power (5.07%), Hindalco Industries (2.38%), JSW Steel (1.31%), Hindustan Zinc (0.83%) and Bhushan Steel (0.42%).

The Power index was at 1,975.78, up by 29.88 points or by 1.54%. The major gainers were Bharat Heavy Electricals (4.36%), Adani Power (3.84%), Reliance Infrastructure (1.73%), A B B (1.6%) and Crompton Greaves (1.15%).

The PSU index was at 7,164.01, up by 106.16 points or by 1.50%. The major gainers were Allahabad Bank(4.33%), Bank Of Baroda (2.05%), Bank Of India (1.6%), Andhra Bank (1.53%) and Bank Of Maharashtra (0.54%).

On the other hand, the FMCG index was at 6,031.81, down by 20.9 points or by 0.35%. The major losers were United Spirits (2.48%), Nestle India (1.9%), Hindustan Unilever (1.75%), Colgate-Palmolive (India) (0.81%) and Godrej Consumer Products (0.69%).

Market Breadth

Market breadth was positive with 1,686 advances against 1,301 declines.

Value and Volume Toppers

United Spirits topped the value chart on the BSE with a turnover of Rs. 965.00 million. It was followed by Karnataka Bank , The (Rs. 953.09 million), State Bank Of India (Rs. 777.30 million) and Godrej Consumer Products (Rs. 738.39 million).

The volume chart was led by Suzlon Energy with trades of over 20.59 million shares. It was followed by Lanco Infratech (9.93 million), Unitech (9.54 million) and Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision (9.48 million).