Despite weak global cues and rising crude prices, the domestic stock market started the week on Monday on a firm note. At 9:30 am, the 30-share Sensex traded at 39,245.08, up 50.59 points or 0.13 per cent and the broader NSE Nifty was at 11,729.65, with a gain of 5.55 points or 0.05 per cent.
IndusInd Bank, L&T, Bharti Airtel, Asian Paints, TCS, NTPC, SBI, ITC, HDFC twins, ICICI Bank and Infosys were the top gainers in the Sensex pack. According to the NDTV, HDFC Bank, Larsen & Toubro and HDFC contributed the most to the advances in Sensex.
In the meantime, Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp, TechM, ONGC, Sun Pharma, Tata Motors and RIL shed up to 2.31 per cent.
According to experts, volatility in crude oil prices due to global political uncertainty has dampened investor sentiment. Going ahead, the upcoming Union budget will remain the key event in the market. The global oil benchmark Brent crude futures rose 0.40 per cent to 64.71 per barrel.
On the currency front, the Indian rupee was trading almost flat at 69.57 against the US dollar. Elsewhere in Asia, Shanghai Composite Index, Hang Seng, Nikkei and Kospi were trading on a positive note in their respective early sessions.
In the previous session Friday, the BSE gauge settled 407.14 points, or 1.03 per cent, lower at 39,194.49, and the broader NSE Nifty tumbled 107.65 points, or 0.91 per cent, to 11,724.10.
On Wall Street, S&P500 and Nasdaq ended in the red. Meanwhile, on a net basis, foreign institutional investors sold equity worth Rs 730.58 crore, while domestic institutional investors purchased shares to the tune of Rs 445.75 crore, provisional data with stock exchanges showed Friday.
(With Inputs from PTI)