Sensex closes 106 points up

Mumbai, March 17 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities closed 106 points higher, giving up some of its intra-day gains, Wednesday -- a day when most global bourses were in the positive terrain.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,389.47 points, shut shop at 17,490.08 points, up 106.9 points or 0.61 percent from its previous close.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended at 5,231.9 points against the previous close at 5,198.1 points, a gain of 0.65 percent or 33.8 points.

Broader markets saw some selling pressure with the respective indices ending on a flat note. The BSE midcap index closed 0.17 percent up, while the BSE small cap index ended 0.14 percent lower.

Of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE, PSU, healthcare and metal stocks gained the most, while realty and auto scrips saw some selling.

The market breadth was negative, with 1,250 stocks advancing, 1,586 on the decline and 92 remaining unchanged.

Among the gainers on the 30-scrip Sensex were Hindalco, up 2.33 percent at Rs.173.55; ICICI Bank, up 1.97 percent at Rs.949.10; TCS, up 1.76 percent at Rs.840.70; and L&T, up 1.62 percent at Rs.1,623.65.

Top losers included Maruti Suzuki, down 1.73 percent at Rs.1,434.75; Hindustan Unilever, down 1.28 percent at Rs.223.80; Tata Power, down 1.15 percent at Rs.1,364.40; and M&M, down 0.9 percent at Rs.1,124.45.

Other Asian markets too ended trade in the positive terrain.

The benchmark Japanese index, Nikkei, closed 1.17 percent up at 10,846.98 points, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 1.72 percent higher at 21,384.49 points.

The South Korean Kospi too was in the green, moving up 2.11 percent to 1,682.86 points, while the Chinese Shanghai composite index shut shop 1.93 percent up at 3,050.48 points.

European markets were trading on a positive note around closing bell here.

The FTSE 100, the benchmark index of the London Stock Exchange, was ruling at 5,656.35 points, up 0.64 percent, while its German peer, DAX, was trading 0.86 percent higher at 6,022.22 points.

The French CAC 40 index was also in the green at 3,965.88 points, up 0.68 percent.