Sensex fails to maintain earlier gains, up 19 points

Mumbai, Feb 8 (PTI) The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmarkSensex saw its initial gains pared by profit-booking inrealty, capital goods and auto stocks and was trading just 19points higher at 1015 hours today.

However, buying in tech, IT and FMCG stocks helped theSensex remain above the previous day''s close.

The 30-share Sensex resumed higher at 18,141.51 butdeclined immediately to 18,001.65 before quoting at 18,055.88at 1015 hours, translating into a small gain of 18.69 points,or 0.10 per cent, vis-a-vis the previous close.

The NSE''s 50-share Nifty also edged up 9.60 points, or0.18 per cent, to 5,405.60 at 1015 hours.

Meanwhile, trading was mixed on bourses in other parts ofAsia. The key benchmark indices in South Korea, Indonesia andJapan rose in the range of 0.05 per cent to 0.36 per cent,while the indices in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore fell bybetween 0.06 per cent and 0.08 per cent.

In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 69.48points to 12,161.63 yesterday, its highest close since June16, 2008. The Nasdaq Composite also advanced by 14.69 pointsto 2783.99, its highest finish since November 6, 2007.