stocks end higher

 After a volatility-marred session, equities managed to end on a higher note on Friday. Consumer durables, auto and energy stocks saw

buying interest, while technology and telecom scrips came under selling pressure. Auto stocks were among the chief gainers. Buying interest in these stocks has been fuelled by hopes of better-than-expected sales for the quarter ending March.

After a strong opening, the market trimmed early gains. Soon after, indices witnessed a bout of volatility in afternoon trade where the Sensex hit a fresh 2-month high and then eased gains.


National Stock Exchange’s Nifty settled at 5282, up 0.41 per cent or 21.6points from the previous close. The index touched a high of 5293.75 and low of 5260.55 in trade so far.

Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensex ended at 17,644.76, up 85.91 points or 0.49 per cent. The index climbed a high of 17,682.94 after opening at 17,558.85.

In the broader market, profit booking was witnessed particularly in the smallcap space. The BSE Midcap Index was up 0.71 per cent and BSE Smallcap Index edged down 0.03 per cent.

Sectorwise, the BSE Auto Index was up 1.75 per cent, BSE Bankex added 1.59 per cent and BSE Oil & Gas Index advanced 0.72 per cent. The BSE IT Index edged 0.67 per cent lower and BSE Realty slipped 0.25 per cent.

Biggest Nifty gainers were Tata Motors (2.99%), Hindustan Unilever (2.89%), Axis Bank (2.73%), Mahindra & Mahindra (2.09%) and IDFC (2.05%).

Siemens (-2.39%), Reliance Industries (-1.81%), Infosys Technologies (-1.56%), Bharti Airtel (-1.34%) and Cairn (-1.19%) were the losers.

Market breadth on BSE remained positive with 1,647 advances against 1,195 declines.