All indices led by auto, healthcare and banking showed up in the green. The 50-share NSE Nifty too gained 46.30 points, or 0.48%, at 9,679.90. Covering-up of short positions helped lift the indices too. A mixed trend prevailed at other Asian bourses. Among a host of key decisions, Sebi eased its takeover norms for restructuring listed companies with stressed assets, a move that is expected to bolster efforts for bad loan resolution. Major gainers were Sun Pharma, HDFC, M&M, Reliance Industries and Axis Bank.

■ 2.35pm: HDFC, Reliance Industries, SBI and ITC stocks are the top gainers with gains to the tune of 1.45%, 1.40%, 1.14% and 1.05%, respectively.

■ 2.00pm: BSE Sensex trades higher by 164 points, or 0.53%, to 31,448, while the Nifty 50 rises 47 points, or 0.49%, to 9,681.

■ 12.52pm: Nifty banking index rises by 0.55%. Yes bank shares rise over 2%, SBI shares rise over 1%, Bank of Baroda rises by 0.87%, IDFC bank shares jump by 0.45%.

■ 12.20pm: Gail India Ltd fell 2.3% to Rs360.05. So far this month, it declined 13.4% while year to date its up 9.7%.

■ 12.10pm: Oil & Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) Ltd fell 1.6% to Rs162.55. In June month, it fell 9.2% and so far this year it fell 15%.

■ 12.05pm: Hindustan Unilever Ltd fell 1.9% to Rs 1,102.75 after the stock turned ex dividend of Rs10 a share.

■ 12.02pm: IT stocks and banking stocks surge with gains to the tune of 1.07%, and 0.72%, respectively.

■ 11.50am: Sun Pharma, HDFC, Reliance Industries and State Bank of India (SBI) post gains to the tune of 1.82%, 1.57%, 1.40%, and 1.34%.

■ 11.15am: BSE Sensex trades higher by 203 points, or 0.65%, to 31,486, while the Nifty 50 rises 52 points, or 0.54%, to 9,686.

■ 11.00am: HDFC Ltd, Sun Pharma and Reliance Industries are top gainers on BSE with profits to the tune of 1.74%, 1.70%, 1.43%, respectively.

■ 10.31am: BSE Sensex trades higher by 126 points, or 0.40%, to 31,409, while the Nifty 50 rises 34 points, or 0.35%, to 9,668.

■ 10.25am: Indiabulls Real Estate Ltd fell 5.3% to Rs 201.40 after huge block deal. Around 1.9 crore shares or 3.8% stake of the company changed hands in a block deal, according to Bloomberg report. However, details of the buyers and sellers were not known.

■ 10.15am: Jaiprakash Associates Ltd rose 9% to Rs 16.70. The stock gained 77% in last one month while so far this year it rose 108.7%.

■ 10.10am: Amtek Auto Ltd rose 9% to Rs 30.85. The stock gained 32% in last three sessions while so far this year it fell 5.7%.

■ 9.55am: Lupin Ltd fell 1.2% to Rs 1081 after CNBC TV reported that its US drug regulator has given five observations to its Pritampur plant.

■ 9.45am: Fortis Healthcare Ltd rose 2.6% to Rs 199.90 after the Delhi high court on Wednesday cleared the way for former Ranbaxy promoters Malvinder and Shivinder Singh to potentially sell a stake in Fortis Healthcare Ltd on the condition that the disclosed value of their unencumbered assets will remain unaffected.

■ 9.38am: Federal Bank shares rise 1.3% to Rs118.35 after the company said it has launched a qualified institutional placement (QIP) offering that could see it raise up to Rs2,500 crore from institutional investors.

■ 9.35am: IDFC Ltd rose 2.4% to Rs58.65 after Reserve Bank of India (RBI) removed foreign investment ban on the company.

■ 9.30am: Jaiprakash Associate Ltd rose 6.3% to Rs16.32 after Business standard reported that the lenders have spared Jaiprakash Associates from insolvency proceedings after clearings its loan recast package. However, group company Jaypee Infratech is set to be referred to the National Corporate Law Tribunal (NCLT) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

■ 9.28am: Reliance Defence and Engineering Ltd rose 3% to Rs58.40 after the company said it will form 49:51 joint venture with Thales.

■ 9.25am: BSE Sensex trades higher by 132 points, or 0.42%, to 31,415, while the Nifty 50 rises 38 points, or 0.40%, to 9,672.

■ 9.20am: The 10-year bond yield was at 6.43% compared to its previous close of 6.428%. Bond yields and prices move in opposite directions.

■ 9.15am: The rupee opened at 64.62 a dollar. At 9.15am, the rupee was trading at 64.53 a dollar, down 0.02% from its Wednesday’s close of 64.52.

■ 9.12am: Asian currencies were trading higher as oil’s rout shows signs of easing, improving risk sentiment and helping a rebound in a gauge of regional stock.

■ 9.10am: Japanese yen was up 0.27%, South Korean won 0.21%, Thai baht 0.12%, Taiwan dollar 0.13%, Malaysian ringgit 0.04%.

■ 9.00am: Asian markets were cautiously higher in early Thursday trade as oil prices rose slightly after hitting a ten-month low overnight.

Source:.livemint.com