Sensex gains over 150 points; capital goods rise

Mumbai: Healthy quarterly results by some of the blue chip companies led a benchmark index of Indian equities markets, the 30-scrip BSE Sensitive Index (Sensex), to gain over 150 points or 0.55 percent during the late-afternoon trade session on Friday.

The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also made gains during the trade session. It was up 36.65 points or 0.44 percent at 8,457.65 points during the late-afternoon trade session.

The Sensex of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,849.54 points, was trading at 27,961.85 points (at 2.50 p.m.), up 152.50 points or 0.55 percent from the previous day's close at 27,809.35 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 28,071.16 points and a low of 27,828.61 points in the intra-day trade.

The surge in the markets was attributed to the healthy quarterly numbers give-out by some blue-chip majors like State Bank of India (SBI). 

The banking major reported that its net profit during the 2014-15 fiscal increased by over 20 percent at Rs.13,102 crore against Rs.10,891 crore during 2013-14 along with an improvement in asset quality.

India's largest commercial bank's net interest income during the review period rose by over 12 percent at Rs.55,015 crore compared to the earnings of Rs.49,282 crore in the 2013-14 fiscal.

Operating profit surged by over 21 percent at Rs.38,914 crore during 2014-15 against Rs.32,109 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

The operating profit of the bank during January-March 2015 increased by nearly 17 percent at Rs.12,409 crore in comparison to Rs.10,628 crore in the corresponding period a year ago.

During the Friday's trade, healthy buying was observed in capital goods, healthcare, oil and gas, information technology (IT) and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors.

The S&P BSE capital goods index augmented by 132.20 points, followed by healthcare index which gained by 108.52 points, oil and gas index was higher by 56.63 points, IT index increased by 53.71 points and FMCG index moved-up by 41.68 points.

However, the S&P BSE consumer durables index fell by 48.52 points, metal index was lower by 21.22 points and realty index slid by 4.21 points.