Sensex rises 46 points on derivates expiry day

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,194.78 points, closed at 18,226.35 points, 46.71 points or 0.26 percent up from its previous close at 18,179.64 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty shut shop 0.28 percent in the green at 5,477.9 points. Broader markets indices, gave up their modest gains to close flat. The BSE midcap closed 0.09 percent down and the BSE smallcap index 0.08 percent higher.

FMCG, power and capital goods scrips saw some buying, while energy and realty scrips came under selling pressure.

The market breadth was tilted towards the negative with 1,328 scrips advancing, compared to 1,588 stocks declining and 118 remaining unchanged. Among the gainers on the Sensex were NTPC, up 2.22 percent at Rs.197.90; DLF, up 2.14 percent at Rs.318.10; ITC, up 1.68 percent at Rs.163.15 and SBI, up 1.47 percent at Rs.2,865.10.
The losers included Reliance Com, down 2.35 percent at Rs.159.90; Sterlite Industries, down 1.23 percent at Rs.152.10; RIL, down 1.18 percent at Rs.956.70 and Hindustan Unilever, down 1.08 percent at Rs.264.90.

Other major Asian bourses closed moderately high, tracking Wednesday's gains at Wall Street. The Japanese Nikkei closed 0.69 percent up at 8,906.48 points. The Chinese Shanghai Composite index ended 0.27 percent higher at 2,603.48 points, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.11 percent at 20,612.06 points.Strong company results helped European stocks to rise Thursday, taking indices up from four-week lows.

At the closing bell here, the FTSE 100 was trading 0.56 percent higher at 5,138.23 points, while the German DAX was ruling 0.26 percent up at 5,914.88 points. The French CAC 40 was trading 0.45 percent higher at 3,465.68 points.