Markets end strong; realty, metal, energy stocks surge

13 February 2008

The markets opened with gap up today as the cues from global markets were supportive and traded with substantial gains through the day before closing strong. Most of the beaten down sectors like realty, power, and metals were strong today. FMCG and banking stocks were also in focus.

It was yet another bad day for the broader markets which traded in red for most part of the day along with the IT, pharma and consumer durable spaces. Market breadth was positive in the early trade but slipped as the midcap and smallcap sectors cracked further in second half. On the volume front, it was not very encouraging day.

Sensex ended up 341.13 points or 2.05% at 16,949.14, and the Nifty closed up 91.20 points or 1.88% at 4929.45. on BSE, about 900 shares advanced, 2068 shares declined, and 47 shares were unchanged. BSE midcap was up 0.24% at 7075.53 and smallcap was down 1.35% at 9049.70.

BSE auto index was up 1.03% at 4555.07. Hero Honda, Punjab Tractors and Cummins were the top gainers in this space.

BSE bankex was up 2.79% at 10143.07. In the banking space Bank of Baroda, Bank of India and HDFC Bank were the top gainers.

BSE capital goods index closed up 1.81% at 15141.81. Thermax, Greaves Cotton, Kirloskar Brothers were the top gainers.