Sensex up for 5th day, gains 86 pts; IT, power shares shine

The BSE benchmark Sensex fell by nearly 90 points in early trade on Tuesday after four sessions of gains on emergence of profit-booking by funds and retailers amid a weak trend in Asian markets.

In volatile trade, the Sensex today extended its winning run for the fifth day today by rising 86 points on buying in IT, power and banking shares.

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The BSE benchmark index, which had gained 455 points in the last four trading sessions, opened a tad higher from yesterday's level on flat global cues.

With momentum picking speed in the last two hours, Sensex finally closed 86.17 points, or 0.49%, up at 17,852.95 — its highest level since August 21.

The 30-share index was led by gains in HDFC, NTPC, GAIL, TCS and ICICI Bank that gained in 1.2-2.5% range.

Brokers said trading sentiment remained better for the fifth day on hopes of a repo rate cut by the RBI in its upcoming meeting.

The pressure on the RBI to cut interest rates may intensify if IIP data slated for tomorrow comes out weaker-than-expected, they added.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), which could have decided on raising diesel and cooking fuel prices, was today postponed even as Oil Minister S Jaipal Reddy said the price increase was unavoidable.

Traders said a firming trend in Asia and higher opening in Europe further supported the uptrend in Sensex.

Metal stocks, however, buckled under pressure with reports of slowing demand. Jindal Steel, Sterlite Industries and Tata Steel were among the biggest losers in the Sensex.

The broad-based National Stock Exchange swung between gains and losses before ending higher by 26.55 points, or 0.50% to 5,390.