Domestic equities opened on a choppy note on Monday tracking mixed cues from other Asian markets, ahead of F&O expiry later this week.

The benchmark BSE Sensex, which had lost 11.71 points in the previous session on Friday, rose 78.11 points, only to turn negative within minutes of session opening.

The benchmark indices logged their fourth straight weekly gain but ended weak on Friday amid weakening of the rupee and a surge in government bond yields.

Release of the minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting after market hours on Thursday indicated that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) might shift to a hawkish monetary stance in June, which dented investors’ sentiment.

The benchmark BSE Sensex declined by about 80 points in early session today, in tandem with weak global cues amid rupee’s plunge below the 66 mark.

Besides, the release of the minutes of last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on April 4-5, indicating the Reserve Bank of India may shift to a hawkish monetary stance in June, weighed on investor sentiment.

The BSE benchmark Sensex rose over 100 points in early trade today tracking strong Asian cues supported by a rally in oil prices and easing global trade concerns.

The 30-share index was trading higher by 147.14 points, or 0.42 %, to 34,478.82 with metal, realty, FMGC, Teck, IT and capital goods stocks rising up to 1.81 %.

Extending its rising streak for the ninth session, the benchmark BSE Sensex advanced nearly 100 points in opening trade today, after forecast of a normal monsoon for the year.

The 30-share barometer was trading higher by 92.66 points, or 0.27 per cent, at 34,398.09, with power, metal, PSU, infrastructure, realty, capital goods and auto sector stocks leading the trend.

Key indices on Monday opened lower tracking mixed Asian cues. The 30-share BSE Sensex was down 229.59 points at 33,963.06 and the 50-share NSE Nifty fell 66.20 points to 10,414.40. Shares of reliance Industries and Infosys also pressurized the indices to trade in red.

The benchmark Sensex gained over 100 points in early trade , continuing its rising streak for the seventh straight session on the back of positive macroeconomic data, ahead of Infosys earnings later in the day.

The 30-share barometer was trading higher by 134.96 points, or 0.39 %, at 34,236.09 with all the sectoral indices, led by metals, banking and realty stocks rising by up to 1 %.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday will auction investment limits for overseas investors for the purchase of corporate bonds worth Rs 82.95 billion.

The auction will be conducted on NSE's e-bid platform from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm after the close of market hours, the exchange said in a circular issued today.

The BSE benchmark Sensex gained for the sixth straight session, reclaiming the crucial 34,000 level briefly in early today, ahead of IIP and inflation data scheduled to be released later in the day.

The government will issue Index of Industrial Production (IIP) numbers for February and inflation data for March based on consumer price index (CPI) today.

Indian stocks continue to be under selling pressure this year even as the benchmark indices have remained largely range-bound. According to data, 374 of the BSE 500 stocks have offered negative returns in 2018 despite the Sensex declining only 0.5 per cent during the year. As many as half of the BSE 500 companies saw their shares tumble over 10 per cent each.

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