Markets end with modest gains led by bank, CG, realty

It was a day of consolidation, after seeing 500 points of rally in last two sessions on the Sensex. The benchmark indices ended marginally higher amid choppy trade, on the back of support from capital goods, realty, banking, pharma, select auto stocks as well as Reliance Communication and Reliance Industries.

However, metal, FMCG stocks as well as NTPC, ONGC, Bharti Airtel, Reliance Infrastructure, Tata Motors and Infosys were under pressure. Railway and Airline stocks were buzzing today while sugar stocks witnessed profit booking.

The markets had started the day with choppy trade but after half an hour of trade initially, both indices turned into green and traded higher. That small rally had also got fizzled out and indices turned choppy again in last two hours of trade on weak global cues.

The 30-share BSE Sensex closed higher at 9,647.47, up 63.58 points or 0.66%. The 50-share NSE Nifty has touched a high of 2957.40 during the day, before ending at 2934.50, up 14.60 points or 0.5% over previous close.

At the time of closing of India equities, global markets were weak, ahead of US stimulus package. Among European markets, FTSE went down 61 points, to 4,246. CAC was trading at 3,086, down 48 points and DAX was at 4,582, down 84 points.

Dow Jones Futures lost 88 points, to 8,130 and Nasdaq Futures fell 13 points, to 1,262.75.

Asian markets ended mixed. Shanghai jumped 1.82% and Straits Times went up 1.25%. Hang Seng and Taiwan gained 0.7-0.81%. However, Nikkei and Kospi lost 0.3% each.