Sensex holds on to gains
By IANSMonday, January 24, 2011
MUMBAI - A benchmark index for an Indian equities market Monday held on to its gains, about an hour before the closing bell, as bank stocks rose as a result of robust earnings reported by private lender ICICI Bank and other public sector banks.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,095.69 points, was ruling at 19,158.35 points - 150.82 points or 0.79 percent up from its previous close at 19,007.53 points.
ICICI Bank reported a rise of 30.5 percent in net profit for the third quarter ended Dec 31 at Rs.1,437 crore.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange too was ruling at 5,744.6 points, 48.1 points or 0.84 percent higher.
Broader markets were also holding up with the BSE midcap index trading 0.94 percent up and the BSE smallcap index up 0.8 percent.
