Markets bounce back, FII inflows help (Roundup)

MUMBAI - Snapping two days of losses, a benchmark index of Indian equities Thursday rallied 388 points on renewed buying, supported by foreign funds. Blue-chip stocks led the rebound.

All 13 sectoral indices ended positive. FMCG, banking, energy and metal scrips were among the major gainers.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,951.34 points, closed at 20,260.58 points, up 388.43 points or 1.95 percent, from its previous close at 19,872.15 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty ended two percent up at 6,101.5 points.

Broader markets also closed in the green. The BSE midcap index ended 1.37 percent higher, while the BSE smallcap index moved up 1.04 percent.

The market breadth was positive with 1,871 stocks advancing, 1,077 declining and 142 remaining unchanged.

According to data available with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), foreign institutional investors bought scrips worth $182.43 million Thursday. For the month, FII fund inflows have touched almost $5.58 billion and the yearly inflows have almost reached $24 billion.

Top Sensex gainers were Hindalco Industries, up 5.05 percent at Rs.213.15; Bharti Airtel, up 5.03 percent at Rs.337.45; Hindustan Unilever, up 3.95 percent at Rs.305.35 and ITC, up 3.65 percent at Rs.174.45.

The only loser was NTPC, which closed 0.12 percent lower at Rs.205.65.

Other Asian markets fell after China’s economic growth slowed to 9.6 percent in the third quarter and inflation rose at its fastest rate to 3.6 percent in almost two years. China this week hiked benchmark interest rates by a quarter-percentage point.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng shut shop 0.39 percent lower at 23,649.48 points, while the Japanese Nikkei closed flat at 9,376.48 points.

The Shanghai Composite index ended trade at 2,983.53, down 0.68 percent.

European stock markets edged a little higher as data from Germany, one of the largest economies of the European Union, showed its manufacturing and services sector grew at a faster rate in October, compared to the previous month.

Around mid-day, Britain’s FTSE 100 was trading 0.69 percent higher at 5,768.48 points.

The German DAX was ruling 0.8 percent up at 6,576.91 points, while the French CAC 40 was 0.95 percent higher at 3,864.61 points.