Sensex back in green, closes at 27,257.64 points

Sensex back in green, closes at 27,257.64 points

The benchmark BSE Sensex recovered by nearly 22 points to close at 27,257.64 points on Wednesday on fresh buying by investors as well as funds mainly in metal and financial stocks amid firm global markets. The broader NSE Nifty too closed above 8,400-mark with total gains of 19 points at close.

Sentiment remained firm for the better part of the session as buying picked up momentum after other Asian markets rose. European shares were also trading in the positive zone in early deals. However, profit-booking by participants at the fag-end and rupee depreciating to 68.05 against the dollar during the day cut early gains.

The BSE benchmark Sensex opened higher at 27,261.76 and hovered in a range of 27,422.67 to 27,217.65 in day trade. It closed at 27,257.64, showing a gain of 21.98 points or 0.08%. The 50-share Nifty also recovered by 19.00 points, or 0.23% to close at 8,417.00 after moving in a range of 8,460.30 and 8,397.40.

The Sensex had dropped by 52.51 points on Tuesday after IMF sharply lowered India's GDP estimates. The recovery was supported by gains in Tata Steel (up 2.95%), HUL (2.86%) and ONGC (1.51%). Other gainers included M&M, TCS, SBI, Coal India, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Power Grid, HDFC Ltd, L&T, Sun Pharma and Maruti Suzuki.

Among laggards, NPTC was the biggest loser, tumbling 1.65%, followed by GAIL (1.37%). Index major Reliance Industries dropped nearly 1%. Overall, 15 scrips ended higher out of the 30-share Sensex pack.

Sector wise, the BSE Metal index rose 2.27%, followed by consumer durables 0.71%, capital goods 0.63% and bankex 0.53%. In broader markets, the BSE small-cap index gained 0.61% and mid-cap ended 0.45% higher.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net of Rs 142.21 crore Tuesday, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Overseas, Asian markets closed higher with Japan's Nikkei closing up 0.43%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng gaining 1.16% and China's Shanghai rising by 0.14%.