Sensex up 68 points on fresh buying

Brokers said emergence of buying by funds and retail investors at select index-related stocks helped Sensex to trade in the positive zone. File Photo: Vivek Bendre

The BSE benchmark Sensex gained 68 points in the late morning trade on buying in refinery, consumer durables, capital goods and banking stocks.

Sensex opened lower at 17,347.76 and moved between 17,444.18 and 17,336.89. It was at 17,441.74 at 1015 hrs, up 67.90 points or 0.39 per cent from Friday’s close.

The NSE 50-share index Nifty moved up 12.45 points or 0.24 per cent to 5,303.30 at 1015 hrs.

Marketmen said the movement in equities is expected to remain volatile this week in view of the settlement of this month’s derivatives contracts on Thursday.

The major gainers this morning were Reliance (1.68 pc), Tata Steel (1.51 pc), Coal India (1.03 pc), L&T (0.92 pc) and ICICI Bank (0.87 pc).

However, Infosys fell 1.46 pc), Jindal steel (1.13 pc), BHEL (0.77 pc) and Hindalco (0.52 pc).

Asian stock markets, however, were trading lower.