Sensex up 24 points in volatile trade

MUMBAI: In choppy trade, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex Monday closed 24 points up led by metals and auto stocks on continuing FII inflows amid firm global markets on hopes that the euro-zone debt crisis, especially the one facing Greece, may ease.

Asian markets ended in the positive zone and European equities were firm as well in the afternoon, as Greece agreed to measures that would help secure a package to ease its debt troubles.

The 30-scrip Sensex moved between 17,849.64 and 17,665.89 before settling 24.15 points or 0.14 per cent up at 17,772.84.

The NSE's 50-stock index Nifty ended 8.60 points, or 0.16 per cent up at 5,390.20.

The two most-heaviest Sensex scrips - with 20 per cent weight - Reliance Industries and Infosys rose 0.71 per cent and 0.06 per cent.

The metal sector index rose 1.01 per cent to 12,489.36 as Tata Steel advanced 2.13 per cent and Sesa Goa, 4.62 per cent.

The auto index gained of 0.84 per cent.

DLF Ltd, however, declined after its quarterly profit fell 45 per cent.

FIIs remained net buyers and picked up shares worth Rs 196.12 crore last Friday as per provisional data from stock exchanges.

Globally, key markets in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea gained up to 0.64 per cent. Indices in the UK (FTSE), Germany (DAX) and France (CAC) also gained by up to a per cent.

Of the 30 Sensex scrips, 19 ended with gains. Major gainers were Hero Motoco (2.41 pc), Tata Steel (2.13 pc), Hindalco (1.90 pc), M & M (1.79 pc), Coal India (1.42 pc), HDFC Bank (1.12 pc) and HUL (0.88 pc).

However, Wipro fell 2.57 pc, Tata Power - 2.48 pc, Cipla - 1.88 pc, L&T - 1.66 pc, Maruti - 1.59 pc and Bharti Airtel - 0.69 pc.

Among the sectoral indices, the BSE-Metal firmed 1.01 pc, followed by Auto - 0.84 pc, Consumer Durables - 0.61 pc and Bankex - 0.36 pc. But, Capital Goods eased by 0.75 pc and Teck by 0.34 pc.

Market breadth at the BSE turned positive as 1,496 stocks finished with gains, while 1,381 ended in the red. The total turnover declined to Rs 3,111.75 crore from Friday's close of Rs 3,632.95 crore.