Positive domestic macro-data lifts equity markets

Mumbai, Nov 1: Positive domestic macro-data and value buying lifted the Indian equity markets during the mid-afternoon trade session on Tuesday.

Healthy buying was witnessed in metal and automobile stocks.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) edged up by 42.30 points or 0.49 per cent to 8,668 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 27,966.18 points, traded at 28,020.16 points (at 2 p.m.) -- up 89.95 points or 0.32 per cent, from its previous close at 27,930.21 points.

The Sensex has so far touched a high of 28,028.37 points and a low of 27,872.15 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bulls -- with 1,565 advances and 1,214 declines.

On Sunday,the benchmark indices had ceded their initial gains during the special "Muhurat" trade session to close on a negative note due to caution ahead of key global events' risks, negative international cues and profit booking. 

The barometer index had declined by 11.30 points or 0.04 per cent, while the NSE Nifty edged lower by 12.30 points or 0.14 per cent.

"The 30 share BSE Sensex and Nifty 50 are trading flat to marginally up today on account of Indian factory PMI (Purchasing Managers' Index) data which showed a rise from 52.1 in Sept'16 to 54.4 in Oct'16," Astha Jain, Senior Research Analyst, Hem Securities told IANS.

"On the international level, the European markets opened marginally higher. Markets are watching for the two-day FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meet that starts today in which Fed is expected to keep policy unchanged."

According to Dhruv Desai, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls, the Nifty traded firm due to buying support from traders.

"Bearish USD/INR futures prices also supported the firm trend in Indian equity markets. Banking, pharma, auto and oil-gas stocks traded firm on strong buying sentiments," Desai said.

"Textile, aviation and media-entertainment stocks traded firm, while FMCG stocks traded down on lack of buying support from traders."