Sensex logs 7th consecutive weekly rise

The BSE benchmark Sensex rose 0.8 percent on Friday to record their seventh straight weekly rise, their best run in nearly two years, bolstered by strong foreign fund inflows amid growing concerns the market has run up too fast in a short span of time.

The benchmark BSE index is up 18 percent this year, mainly on buying by overseas portfolio investors who have pumped in USD 4.4 billion so far this year, after pulling out more than USD 500 million in 2011.

Top lenders such as State Bank of India and ICICI Bank were among the top gainers in the day's trading, fuelled by an improved credit demand outlook amid expectations of interest rate cuts by the central bank.

Power equipment maker Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd closed 6.7 percent higher at Rs 303.55, after rising as much as 14.3 percent to its highest level in three months, as investors bet on a rise in orders this year.

State-run NTPC Ltd plans to award USD 3.25 billion of equipment orders by March-end after a ruling by India's top court settled a case with a bidder in favour of the country's top power producer, its chairman said on Thursday.

The 30-share BSE index closed up 0.75 percent, or 135.36 points, at 18,289.35, its best close in more than six months. Nineteen of its components ended in the positive territory.

"The global liquidity conditions have improved in the last couple of months and India is benefitting from fewer investment opportunities in the developed markets," said Claugio Bernasconi, a Switzerland-based fund manager for AMC Expert India Fund.

"Although a bounceback was expected after the Indian markets became the worst performer last year, I am turning cautious now because this sudden and strong rally is not supported by any improvement in the fundamentals of the country."

Technical indicators show the benchmark index could be ripe for a correction as it is deep in "overbought" territory, with its 14-day relative strength index at 77 on Friday. A score of 70 and above is considered overbought.

Citigroup said in a research report the Indian market rally was mainly driven by overseas inflows with "relatively little evidence" of retail participation, though the domestic economy or the corporate sector outlook have not changed much.

Indian economic growth has lost momentum as lingering eurozone debt woes, coupled with high domestic interest rates and a policy paralysis at home have hit capital investments by companies.

BSE Sensex regains 18K level, rising 209 points in early trade

The BSE benchmark index Sensex, today regained 18,000 points level by rising nearly 209 points in early trade on sustained buying by funds and retailers on better-than-expected quarterly earnings by corporates.

The 30-share index, which had gained almost 100 points in last two trading sessions, shot up by 208.76 points, or 1.17 percent, to trade at 18,057.33 with all sectoral indices, led by auto and realty, gaining up to 2.63 percent.

The wide-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange moved up by 60.25 points, or 1.11 percent, to 5,476.30.

Brokers said besides encouraging quarterly corporate earnings, firming trend on other Asian bourses on expectations of a solution to Greece's debt worries boosted the trading sentiment.

Better-than-exepcted quarterly earnings by Tata Motors and other blue-chip companies and easing inflation were other positive factors, they said.

Tata Motors shot up by 6.68 percent to Rs 285.80.

In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose by 0.09 percent and Japan's Nikkei Index by 1 percent in early trade.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended higher by 0.03 percent yesterday.

Sensex cautious ahead of US jobs data

The BSE Sensex eased early on today as investors took profits after a more than 3 percent rally over the past three days and weighed by caution in Asian markets ahead of the key US jobs data.

At early trade, the main 30-share BSE index was down 0.07 percent at 17,419.11, with 13 of its components in the negative territory.

The 50-share NSE index was down 0.19 percent at 5,260.05.

Brokers said continued buying by FIIs on the Indian bourses and encouraging quarterly earnings by some corporates mainly buoyed the trading sentiment but a weak trend on other Asian bourses, capped the gains here.

In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index shed 0.19 percent and Japan's Nikkei Index by 0.10 percent in early trade today.

Sensex gains over 176 points in early trade

The BSE benchmark Sensex on Friday shot up by another 176 points in early trade, extending gains for the fourth straight session on continued buying by funds and retailers amid a firming trend in Asian markets.

The 30-share index rose further by 176.39 points, or 1.03 percent, to 17,253.57. It had gained over 338 points in the past three sessions.

In a similar fashion, the wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index regained 5,200 points level to trade 49.75 points, or 0.96 percent, higher at 5,208.05 points.

Brokers said apart from a firming trend on other Asian bourses, hopes of easing liquidity in the market after the RBI cut cash reserve ratio by 0.50 percentage point in its policy review on Tuesday, buoyed the trading sentiment.

In Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose by 0.13 percent and Japan's Nikkei Index by 0.40 percent in early trade, Friday.