Markets gain in early trade, wait for Economic Survey

Mumbai, Feb 27: The 30-share Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensitive Index (Sensex) opened higher this morning at 10,214 points as compared to last close at 10,200.

The markets are expected to react to the budget eve Economic Survey coming up today at around 1200 hrs which will give details of how economy performed during this fiscal (2005-06).

The key index touched a high of 10,288 in the first hour of trade on the back of robust foreign fund inflow of Rs 761 crore on Thursday.

The benchmark index was trading 84 points up at 10,284 at 1105 hrs.

BSE Consumer Durbales index was down by 2.66 per cent, whereas BSE Infotech, auto, bank and health care indices were up with good gains.

Top Sensex gainers were Maruti, Gujarat Ambuja Cements, Infosys, HDFC, Dr Reddy's Lab, Grasim Industries, HDFC Bank, Tata Power, Satyam Computer and ITC Ltd.

Top losers included Reliance Industries, Hindustan Lever and Bharti Tele.

The 50-share National Stock Exchange (NSE) S&P CNX Nifty index opened flat at 3,050. The index surged to a high of 3,070 and was trading at 3,067 with a gain of 17 points at 1118 hrs.

GVK Power and Infrastructure Ltd made its debut on the bourses today. The company's Rs 10 share of Rs 310 value opened at Rs 376 and touched a high of Rs 388 and a low of Rs 305.25 before trading at Rs 315.10 at 1121 hours.

The volumes were high with more than 55 lakh shares traded so far.

UNI