Key benchmark indices pared gains in mid-afternoon trade. At 14:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 192.23 points or 0.55% at 35,161.93. The Nifty 50 index was up 45.75 points or 0.43% at 10,738.05. The Sensex was trading above the psychologically important 35,000 mark after opening above that level. Positive global cues boosted investors' sentiment.
Overseas, European equities were trading higher as investors digested merger news and focused on earnings. Asian stocks edged higher as investors focused on a mix of ebbing geopolitical tensions, robust earnings and economic data. US stock benchmarks closed out little changed on Friday, 27 April 2018, as investors expressed muted enthusiasm following strong corporate results.
Back home, the market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On BSE, 1,389 shares rose and 1,190 shares fell. A total of 132 shares were unchanged.
Among secondary barometers, the BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.66%. The BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.75%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
Auto shares rose. Ashok Leyland (up 2.01%), Mahindra & Mahindra (up 1.51%), Escorts (up 1.48%), Tata Motors (up 1.14%), Hero MotoCorp (up 0.39%), Bajaj Auto (up 0.31%), Maruti Suzuki India (up 0.19%) and TVS Motor Company (up 0.08%), edged higher. Eicher Motors was down 0.97%.
Cement shares were in demand. Ambuja Cements (up 2.41%), ACC (up 1.82%) and UltraTech Cement (up 1.34%), edged higher.
Grasim Industries was up 0.65%. Grasim has exposure to cement sector through its holding in UltraTech Cement.
Powered by Capital Market - Live News
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)