Key benchmark indices edged higher in early trade on positive trading in Asian stocks and strong finish on Wall Street overnight. At 9:19 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, advanced 179.34 points or 0.53% at 34,333.19. The Nifty 50 index rose 41.15 points or 0.39% at 10,600. The Sensex, and the Nifty, hit fresh record highs in early trade.
The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.69%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index advanced 0.81%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
Overseas, Asian stocks edged higher following firm US lead as investors awaited upcoming earnings releases. US stocks rose to record levels on Friday, 5 January 2018 even as Wall Street shook off jobs data that missed expectations. The US economy added 148,000 jobs in December, according to the Labor Department, as against expectations of 190,000 jobs.
Closer home, the breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. On the BSE, 1,435 shares rose and 319 shares declined. A total of 44 shares were unchanged.
Index heavyweight and housing finance major HDFC advanced 0.93% at Rs 1,742.
Engineering and construction equipment major L&T rose 1.32% at Rs 1,331.90 after the company said its construction division has bagged three EPC orders worth Rs 2265 crore from Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA). The announcement was made during market hours today, 8 January 2018.
NBCC (India) was up 0.64% at Rs 250.60 after the company said it has received a contract from Ecotourism Development Corporation of Uttarakhand, Dehradun for Construction of Kotdwar-Ramnagar Kandi Road under Green Infrastructure/Green Road Project amounting to about Rs 2000 crore as project management consultant. The announcement was made on Saturday, 6 January 2018.
The 14-day long winter session of the Parliament concluded on Friday, 5 January 2018. The Speaker said that 16 bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha by the government in the session, of which 12 bills including the triple talaq bill was passed. Important bills passed during the session also included the Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Bill and the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Amendment Bill.
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