Sensex opens firm at 13,221.76

Mumbai, Apr 11 (UNI) The BSE Sensex today opened firm at 13,221.76 with a modest gain around by 32 points from 13,189.54 on last close on continued to buying support by FIIs and mutual funds.

Brokers said the BSE Sensex opened on a firm note, as buying continued for the third straight day, and has crossed the 13,200 mark.

Later, the BSE Sensex was up 51.82 points to 13,241.95. It opened higher at 13221.76, and struck a high of 13,246.92, as buying continued. Its low for the day is at 13174.13.

India's largest private sector steel manufacturer Tata Steel was the top gainer, up by 3.77 per cent to Rs 514.25 on high early volumes of 6.76 lakh shares.

ITC (up by 1.03 per cent), Hindalco (up by 1.14 per cent), and Tata Motors (up 1.10 per cent),were the other gainers.

Index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) was up by 0.20 per cent to Rs 1384.50 on 19997 shares.

Housing finance major HDFC was the top loser, down 1.75 per cent to Rs 1579.80 HDFC Bank (down by 0.80 per cent), HLL (down by 0.53 per cent), and ACC (down by 0.42 per cent), were the other losers.

Asian stocks edged higher this morning, with Seoul hitting a record high for the sixth straight session, but Tokyo's Nikkei lagged gainers after weak Japanese manufacturing data cast doubt on capital spending. Nikkei was up 0.08 per cent. The data reinforced expectations that the Bank of Japan will not be in a hurry to raise rates.

Other Asian stock markets were encouraged by gains on Wall Street.

Key benchmark indices in Hong Kong, China, South Korea and Singapore were up by between 0.06 to 1.1 per cent, brokers added.

UNI