Sensex opens up by 205 pts at 10,428.11

Mumbai, Oct 21 (UNI) The Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) today opened firm again at 10,428.11 points, with a big gain of 205.02, from its previous finish of 10,223.09 on renewed bull support from local operators in view of bullish advices from Asian markets.

Similarly, the Nifty index of National Stock Exchange (NSE) also opened in the green at 3,125.40 points, as against the previous day's close of 3,122.80.

The BSE 30-share Sensex is now up by 279.58 points to 10,502.67.

The Nifty is also up by 70.40 points to 3,193.20. The BSE Mid-Cap index was up by 0.87 pc at 3,536.81 and the Small-Cap index was up by 0.97 pc at 4,152.55. Both the indices outperformed the Sensex.

The key benchmark indices extended yesterday's gains on higher Asian markets and on short covering following the stock market regulator Securities&Exchange Board of India's (SEBI) warning to foreign funds against overseas lending and borrowing of Indian securities. Consumer durables and realty stocks rose. Index heavyweight Reliance Industries edged higher. The market breadth was strong. Buying was witnessed in mid-cap and small-cap stocks, a leading broker said.

Reliance Industries rose by 1.05 pc to Rs 1,335.10. Jaiprakash Associates was up by 4.43 pc to Rs 70.80, Reliance Communications moved up by 3.27 pc to Rs 239.70, Satyam Computer Services rose by 3.24 pc to Rs 298.35. They were the major gainers among the Sensex pack.

But Mahindra&Mahindra (down by 6.12 pc to Rs 391.50), Grasim Industries (down by 4.58 pc to Rs 1,136) and Bharti Airtel (eased by 3.54 pc to Rs 683) were the major losers among the Sensex pack.

UNI AR SSS VKG1140