The BSE benchmark Sensex gained over 31 points in early trade today on the back of covering-up of short positions by participants following monthly expiry in the derivatives segment.

The 30-share index, which had shed 83.42 points in the previous session on Tuesday, moved up by 31.51 points, or 0.16 per cent, to 18,741.53 with oil and gas, metals and realty sector stocks leading the recovery.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty was up 6.05 points, or 0.10 per cent, to 5,697.45.
The markets remained closed yesterday on account of “Dussehra”.

Brokers said covering-up of pending short positions by participants as today is the last session of current month’s expiry in the derivatives segment influenced the trading sentiments.

Besides, a slightly better trend at Asian bourses on signs of recovery in China, also supported the recovery, they said.

In Asia, Hong Kong market gained 0.17 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei Index was up by 0.34 per cent.
The US dow Jones Industrial Average, however, ended 0.19 per cent lower in yesterday’s trade.
The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was positive. On BSE out of total shares traded 1559 , shares advanced were 930 while 561 shares declined and 68 were unchanged.

The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd. (Rs. 101.15,+2.74%), Hero MotoCorp Ltd. (Rs. 1817.75,+1.21%), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 836.35,+1.03%), Reliance Industries Ltd. (Rs. 817.25,+0.90%), Oil And Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (Rs. 278.35,+0.89%), among others.

Among the thirteen sectoral indices on BSE, oil&gas index stood as top gainer and was trading higher at 78520.84 up by 64.4 points or by 0.76%. Reliance Industries Ltd. (Rs. 817.25,+0.90%), Oil And Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (Rs. 278.35,+0.89%), Petronet LNG Ltd. (Rs. 165.75,+0.85%), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (Rs. 303.00,+0.68%), Cairn India Ltd. (Rs. 339.45,+0.50%).

Following the oil&gas index, metal index was at 10330 up by 74.27 points or by 0.72%. Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd. (Rs. 101.15,+2.74%), Sesa Goa Ltd. (Rs. 169.80,+1.89%), Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Rs. 114.30,+0.84%), NMDC Ltd. (Rs. 186.90,+0.54%), Coal India Ltd. (Rs. 359.65,+0.53%).

GLOBAL MARKETS ROUNDUP

Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange fall 0.01 percent. The MSCI-Asia Pacific index excluding Japan is up 0.32 percent.

U.S. stocks ended lower for a second day on Wednesday, as investors soured on another round of underwhelming corporate results and the Federal Reserve said it would stick to its stimulus plan until the job market improves.

Asian shares edged higher on Thursday as signs of recovery in China and the United States eased fears of deteriorating global growth, but sentiment remained vulnerable with weak corporate earnings continuing to undermine investor confidence.