Sensex 180 points up on Asian cues

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,911.31 points, was trading at 18,049.09 points, 180.8 points or 1.01 percent up from its previous close at 17,868.29 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling 1.04 percent up at 5,423.45 points.     

Broader markets indices were also in the green with the BSE midcap index 0.91 percent up and the BSE smallcap index trading 1.07 percent higher.     

Banking, consumer durables, realty and metal stocks were among the major gainers. All 13 sectoral indices on the BSE were in the positive.

The market breadth was positive, with 1,867 scrips advancing, compared to 934 stocks declining, and 69 remaining unchanged.     

The mood was upbeat in other Asian markets backed by robust corporate earnings results.

The Japanese Nikkei closed 0.35 percent higher at 9,570.31 points, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 1.48 percent at 21,341.18 points.
The Chinese Shanghai Composite index was trading 1.27 percent higher at 2,671.06 points.