Rising for the second consecutive session, the benchmark BSE Sensex gained over 88 points in early trade on Friday on sustained foreign capital inflows coupled with a mixed trend on other Asian bourses.
The 30-share index, which had gained 120.11 points in the previous session, gathered another 88.93 points, or 0.31 %, to 28,651.75 with oil & gas, metals and capital goods sectors leading the rise. The NSE Nifty also shot up by 15.15 points, or 0.18 %, to 8,579.55.
Brokers said besides sustained foreign capital inflows and increased buying by retail investors, a mixed trend at other Asian bourses amid the European Central Bank deciding not to expand its stimulus for now, influenced trading sentiments. Shares of state-run SAIL fell by 0.94 % to Rs 84.55 after the government yesterday fixed the floor price for its stake sale at Rs 83 per share, which can raise Rs 1,500-1,700 crore for the exchequer in the first disinvestment under the new regime.
Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.32 %, while Japan’s Nikkei fell 0.37 % in early trade today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.07 % lower in yesterday’s trade.
–PTI