Markets gain for the third day, Sensex ends up 271 points ahead of CPI data

Mumbai: Ahead of the release of crucial inflation data, a benchmark index of Indian equities markets provisionally closed Thursday’s trade up 271 points or 0.95 percent. [caption id=“attachment_1999999” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Reuters[/caption]The government will release consumer price index (CPI) data around 5.00 pm Thursday. The data assumes significance as it gives a directional sense of whether or not the apex bank will cut key interest rates. Healthy buying was observed in interest sensitive stocks like capital goods, automobile, healthcare, bank and information technology (IT). However, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) scrip came under heavy selling pressure. The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 28,650.25 points, was trading at 28,805.10 points (3.30 pm), up 271.13 points or 0.95 percent from the previous day’s close at 28,533.97 points. The Sensex has touched a high of 28,838.52 points and a low of 28,406.25 points in the intra-day trade. The S&P BSE capital goods index surged by 382.84 points, followed by automobile index which was up 280.59 points, healthcare index was higher by 259.36 points, bank index increased by 208.23 points and IT index rose 120.69 points. However, S&P BSE FMCG index was down 13.18 points. The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also made gains in the day’s trade. It was up 84.15 points or 0.98 percent at 8,711.55 points. IANS