Sensex makes good Wednesday's loss, almost

Mumbai, Aug 20 (PTI) Alternating days of gains and losses
continued on Thursday for the BSE Sensex as the barometer
seemed to be consolidating at the psychological 15,000 level
by gaining 203 points on positive news from China.

The Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share index moved in the
range of 15,145.00 and 14,928.18 before finishing the day at
15,012.32, a net rise of 202.68 points or 1.37 per cent over
its previous close.

Although the turnover was low, buying in select key
pivotals helped the bellwether index to recover most of on
Wednesday's losses.

Once again China played a crucial role in reviving
market sentiment. China's Shanghai Composite Index on Thursday
spurted by 4.52 per cent, the second-largest gain in 2009.

Besides Taiwan, most of the other Asian indices also
ended up between 1.46 per cent and 1.97 per cent. European
markets also were trading firm by nearly 1.5 per cent in their
afternoon deals.

The broader 50-share Nifty of the National Stock Exchange
also bounced back by 59.35 points or 1.35 per cent to 4,453.45
from its last close.

US stock index futures also indicated a positive opening
today.

Bonanza Portfolio Assistant Vice-President Avinash Gupta
said, "The investors overcame the anxiety relating to China
and the markets across the globe rallied."

The US markets on Wednesday recovered from intra-day lows
and ended higher after a surprise drop in crude inventories,
which sent oil prices and energy stocks soaring. The Dow Jones
Industrial gained 61.22 points and the Nasdaq Composite Index
added 13.32 points.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continued their
selling spree and pulled out Rs 622.06 crore on August 19,
according to provisional figures.

In the Sensex pack, Maruti Suzuki advanced 4.88 per cent,
M&M 4.48 per cent, Hero Honda 3.90 per cent, SBI 3.70 per
cent, Grasim 3.01 per cent, and Tata Power 2.52 per cent.

Bharti Airtel was the only loser in the Sensex with a
fall of 1.15 per cent.

All the sectoral indices ended in the black. The auto
index was at the forefront with a gain of 137.06 points or
2.60 per cent followed by the Bankex, by 148.10 points or 1.85
per cent.

Adani Power, which listed on Thursday and recorded the
highest turnover of Rs 976.51 crore, ended at Rs 100.05 over
its initial offer price of 100 per share. It moved in a range
of 105.00 and 98.50. PTI VMP