Markets open in the green

Mumbai, Sep 5: The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex today openend higher at 15,535.35 from it's previous close of 15,465.40 boosted by firm global markets.

''This is the ninth straight session of gains for the market.

Market breadth is strong on the BSE . Reliance Industries has hit an all time high of Rs 1999.30 in the early session itself. US markets rose overnight after manufacturing activity expanded last month, easing recession worries, and drawing money into stocks. Most of the Asian markets were trading higher today encouraged by a higher close on Wall Street yesterday,'' market analysts said.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) S&P CNX Nifty also opened marginally higher at 4,479.60 from it's previous close of 4,479.25.

The market breadth was strong on BSE, with 1514 shares advancing as compared to 527 that declined, while 51 remained unchanged. The total turnover on BSE in early trade amounted to Rs 840 crore. From 30-member Sensex pack, 22 gained while the rest declined, official data shows.

The early winners include NTPC, Reliance Energy, Cipla, Satyam Computers, Reliance Industries and SBI, while the losers were Maruti Udyog, HDFC Bank and Hindustan Unilever.

Among Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Taiwan Weighted, Singapore's Straits Times and Shanghai Composite advanced, while Japan's Nikkei and South Korea's Seoul Composite slipped.

US stocks advanced yesterday. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 91.12 points, or 0.68 per cent, to 13,448.86. Broader stock indicators also advanced. The Standard&Poor's 500 index added 15.43 points, or 1.05 per cent, to 1,489.42, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq Composite index surged 33.88 points, or 1.30 per cent, to 2,630.24.

UNI