Sensex snaps 5-day losing streak

Sensex bounced back from its lows and closed 112.41 points higher led by capital goods.

Snapping the five-day losing string,the BSE benchmark Sensex today bounced back from its 17-week low to close over 112 points higher on buying at existing levels in capital goods,metal and IT counters amid rupee gaining strength and revival in European stocks.

Investors were richer by Rs 32,000 crore today after substantial amount of wealth was washed away on sustained selling in the previous five sessions.

Barring a brief spell of selling that saw Sensex touch a 17-week low of 16,123.04,sentiment was buoyant for most of the day helping the 30-share benchmark cut its losing streak and close at 16,328.25,a rise of 112.41 points or 0.69 per cent.

In last five sessions,Sensex had plunged by 696.87 points or 4.12 per cent with investors fretting over fundamental weakness in the economy and Eurozone worries.

Brokers said apart from rupee and European trends,corporate earnings from Lamp;T boosted the trading sentiment.

8220;Initial buying was seen in capital goods stock Lamp;T,as sentiments improved for the counter on better-than-expected Q4FY12 results yesterday. Buying was also seen in IT stocks as value buying emerged after recent fall. Momentum increased as the session progressed,8221; said Shanu Goel,Senior Research Analyst,Bonanza Portfolio.

Lamp;T with over 5.4 per cent gains was the biggest gainer among Sensex pack after strong fourth quarter earnings and robust future outlook.

Story continues below this ad

8220;Market recovered as RBI intervened and rupee,after touching low of 54.25,recovered8230; traders cut short positions. If rupee travels towards 52,then we can see some more recovery in Sensex and Nifty,8221; said Kishor P Ostwal,CMD,CNI Research.

Among the index heavyweights,Infosys,Lamp;T and ICICI Bank together contributed over 100 points to the index8217;s gains.

The NSE 50-share Nifty today recovered by 35 points or 0.71 per cent to close at 4,942.80.

European markets were quoting higher in their afternoon deals after Germany earlier today released stronger-than-expected gross domestic product GDP data,showing return to growth for Europe8217;s largest economy,while France8217;s GDP was stable.

Story continues below this ad

The CAC,the DAX and the FTSE were trading between 0.26 per cent and 0.37 per cent higher.

Asian stocks were mostly lower in the early trade on weak US stocks yesterday but ended mixed amid increasing concern over a Greek exit from the eurozone.

In the Indian markets,19 scrips out of the 30-share index gained while 11 counters declined.

Other major gainers from Sensex pack were Sun Pharma 3.20 pc,Sterlite Industries 3.16 pc,Infosys 3.13 pc,Hero MotoCorp 2.65 pc,DLF 2.50 pc,Tata Steel 2.39 pc and Jindal Steel 2.25 pc.

Story continues below this ad

ICICI Bank,Hindalco,Bajaj Auto,Cipla and SBI ended with 1-2 per cent gains.

However,Sensex losers today were led by NTPC that fell by 2.94 per cent,followed by Maruti Suzuki 2.57 pc,ITC 1.35 pc,Bharti Airtel 1.28 pc and Gail India 1.27 pc.

Among the sectoral indices,the BSE-Capital Goods rose by 3.07 per cent,followed by the BSE-Metal 2.21 pc,BSE-IT

1.56 pc,BSE-TECk 1.09 pc and BSE-Healthcare 0.97 pc.

Foreign institutional investors FIIs bought shares worth Rs 404.10 crore yesterday as per Sebi data.

Story continues below this ad

The market breadth turned positive as 1,365 stocks ended with gains while 1,329 stocks finished with losses. The total turnover declined further to Rs 1,816.57 cr from Rs 1,832.46 crore previously.

Mutual Funds Check for top funds

Company INFO More on Bajaj Auto

Stocks More on ICICI Bank