BSE Sensex rallied over 291 points at 27,302.63 in early trade today after a long weekend on fresh buying by participants as the May series in derivatives segment began amid positive Asian cues.

The 30-share index, which had lost 385.07 points in the previous two sessions, rose by 291.32 points, or 1.08 per cent, at 27,302.63.

Distinctly weak tendency prevailed for the third week in a row as the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex and the CNX Nifty plunged by another 1.5 pct to close at almost four-month low on host of negative factors during the truncated week under review.

The BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty were closed on May 1, for observing “Maharashtra Day” holiday.

Stock exchanges BSE and NSE have decided to shift a total of 56 companies to the restricted trading segment from May 6 to ensure safety of investors in the capital markets.

BSE said it would be shifting as many as 47 scrips to the trade-to-trade or the 'T' group segment, while the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has decided to move nine stocks to this category, the bourses said in separate notices.

The benchmark Bombay Stock Exchange or BSE Sensex tanked over 240 points to slip below the 27,000-level in late morning trade today as participants indulged in offloading positions in view of April series expiry in the derivatives segment.

The 30-share barometer, which had lost 170.45 points in yesterday’s volatile session, dipped below the 27,000-mark by falling 224.34 points or 0.82 per cent to 27001.59.

Stock exchanges BSE and NSE have ordered share trading suspension for companies found to be non-compliant to listing agreement clauses relating to corporate governance norms and shareholding disclosures.

Trading has been suspended by the BSE in shares of as many as 16 companies. The National Stock Exchange or NSE has announced similar action against three companies, two of which are also part of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) list.

The Indian rupee was trading marginally higher at 62.83 per dollar against previous day's closing value of 62.85 a dollar tracking gains in equities.

BSE Healthcare index was the top gainer up 1% followed by Capital Goods, FMCG, Metal, Oil and Gas indices.

Markets turned choppy weighed down by pharma shares with Sun Pharma leading the decline while gains in ITC and financials helped offset some of the losses.

At 10:45AM, the 30-share Sensex was down 100 points at 27,786 and the 50-share Nifty was down 33 points at 8,444.

Benchmark indices are trading marginally weak after trimming losses on gains in select index heavyweight and bank stocks as the continuing deflation in wholesale prices have raised hopes of a rate cut by Reserve Bank of India.

At 2:07PM, the 30-share Sensex and the 50-share Nifty were flat at the mark of 29,043 and 8,828 respectively.

The benchmark BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty rallied for the second week in a row by over 2.0 percent buoyed by across-the-board buying, Moody’s raising country’s credit outlook and speculations that the US Fed may keep interest rates low after weak jobs data.

However, Reserve Bank of India, in its monetary policy on April 7, left the short-term lending rate or repo rate unchanged and also kept the cash reserve ratio and the statutory liquidity ratio static, which weighed on the markets as Sensex closed almost flat on Tuesday.

Shares of midcap companies are continue at their upward march for the seven straight trading sessions with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) CNX Mid-cap index hit a fresh record high today.

At 1427 hours, CNX Mid-cap index was up 0.60% at 13,608 points, after hitting a new high of 13,631 in intra-day trade. The CNX Nifty was down 0.20% at 8,761.

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