Sensex holding on to gains, Asian cues positive

MUMBAI - A benchmark index of Indian equities Thursday was holding on to morning gains led by rising realty and banking stocks, amid positive Asian cues.

The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 20,038.66 points, was ruling at 19,979.33 points, up 129.33 points or 0.65 percent from its previous close at 19,850 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was trading at 5,991.6 points, up 0.52 percent.

Broader markets were also in the green, with the BSE midcap index ruling 1.09 percent up and the BSE smallcap index trading 1.39 percent higher.

Realty, consumer durables, and banking stocks rallied strongly while auto stocks saw some profit booking.

The market breadth was positive, with 1,966 stocks advancing, compared to 822 scrips on the decline, while 76 stocks were unchanged.

Other Asian markets rose, tracking gains in the US markets.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was trading 0.93 percent higher at 23,466.35 points, while the Shanghai Composite index was ruling 0.82 percent higher at 2,846.64 points.

The Japanese Nikkei closed 1.81 percent up at 10,168.52 points.