The Indian market has kicked off the new week on a positive note, with the key indices extending last week's modest gains amid good global cues. Asian markets are mostly positive in the wake of an improved US jobs data.
Wall Street rallied on Friday after the report showed less than anticipated loss of jobs even as private payrolls increased more than forecast. The unemployment rate though inched higher. European markets too gained after the release of the US jobs data.
At 9:11 a.m. (IST), the Sensex was at 18,353, up 131 points or 0.7% over the previous close. It had earlier been as high as 18,369 after opening at the day's low of 18,124.
The Nifty was up 40 points or 0.7% at 5,519 after touching a high of 5,523. It had opened at the day's low of 5,479.
All sectoral indices on the BSE are in the green. Metals, Real Estate and IT indices on the BSE are the top winners followed by Pharma, Banking and Auto. Others like FMCG, Capital Goods, Consumer Durables, Power and Oil & Gas are up marginally.
The broader market is doing slightly better compared to their frontline peers, with the BSE Small-Cap index and the BSE Mid-Cap index up about 1% each.
Hindalco, Sterlite, Tata Steel, ICICI Bank, Jindal Steel, Jaiprakash Associates, Infosys, Axis Bank, HCL Tech and Unitech are among the top gainers in the Sensex and Nifty. ONGC, Cairn India and Hindustan Unilever are the only notable losers in the two main indices.