Sensex down 151 points on profit-booking

The BSE benchmark Sensex fell by over 151 points in opening trade Friday as participants booked gains recorded in the previous session amid a weakening trend on other Asian bourses.

The 30-share Sensex, which closed 158.52 points higher in the previous session, fell by 151.47 points, or 0.95 percent, to 15,707.02 in opening trade Friday.

In a similar fashion, the wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty Index shed 46.75 points, or 0.98 percent, to 4,709.70.

Bucking the trend, stocks of retail firms were in good demand after the government cleared 51 percent foreign direct investment in the multi-brand retail sector yesterday.

Stocks of Pantaloon Ltd climbed 10.47 percent to Rs 221.30, while Shopper's Stop gained 7.39 percent to Rs 399.75 after the government took a decision to allow 51 percent FDI in the multi-brand retail sector, which was earlier off-limits to foreign players.

All the sectoral indices were trading in the negative zone, with losses of up to 1 percent.

Brokers said apart from profit-booking by speculators after yesterday's gains, a weakening trend in other Asian markets on concerns over the eurozone debt crisis dampened the trading sentiment at home.

Meanwhile, in the Asia region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was down by 1.22 percent and Japan's Nikkei shed 0.32 percent in morning trade Friday. The US market was closed yesterday for 'Thanksgiving Day'.

Sensex zooms over 600 points amid global rally

The BSE benchmark Sensex shot up by over 619 points in the opening trade Friday on brisk buying by foreign funds, triggered by easing euro-zone debt crisis and indications by the RBI that it may pause rate hikes.

The 30-share index, which had gained over 500 points in the last three sessions, skyrocketed by 619.30, or 3.58 percent to 17,908.13 in the first five minutes of trading.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty also surged, up 197.90 points, or 3.80 percent to 5,399.70, led by metal, banking, auto and IT sector.

The brokers said foreign funds turned net buyers, supported by a global equities rally following steps by European Union leaders to resolve the debt crisis in the euro region, especially, Greece.

Further, they said RBI's indication earlier this week that it may pause further rate hikes, fuelled the uptrend.

Meanwhile, in Asia, the Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was up by 1.82 percent and the Japan's Nikkei rose by 1.19 percent in the morning trade Friday.

Sensex regains 16K, up over 500 points on firm global cues

The BSE benchmark Sensex gained 533 points in early trade Friday on all-round buying by operators and investors in the wake of a four-session losing streak.

The BSE benchmark Sensex resumed higher at 16,222.49 and shot up further to 16,347.48 before quoting at 16,325.55, a sharp rise of 533.14 points, or 3.38 percent, from its last close.

The National Stock Exchange's (NSE) 50-share Nifty Index was also up by 166.85 points, or 3.51 percent, at 4,918.15. All the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE were in the green.

Metal stocks surged after the London Metal Exchange, a gauge of six metals, jumped by 4.4 percent yesterday. IT stocks rose on positive economic data from the US, the largest outsourcing market for the Indian IT firms.

The major gainers in early trade were Jindal Steel (up 7.50 percent), Sterlite Industries (7.18 percent), Tata Motors (6.55 percent), ICICI Bank ((6.42 percent), DLF (6.01 percent) and Wipro (4.91 percent).

Asian stocks rose sharply in early trade, making a broad-based advance on fresh indications that Europe is ramping up efforts to shore up its financial system and prevent another global banking crisis.

The key benchmark indices in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan were up by between 1.14 percent and 3.17 percent.

Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex lost over 200 points today

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex lost over 200 points in early trade today in line with their Asian peers as prospects of a global recession continues to unnerve investors.

The 30-share index, which lost 704 points in yesterday's session, fell by 201 points to 16,159.20 in earlier trade today.  The wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index also plunged by 59 points to 4,864.43.

Brokers attributed the widespread losses to a massive sell-off by funds, influenced by the weak trend in global markets after the US Federal Reserve warned of significant downside risks to the American economy.

Alarm about the risk of another economic down turn, after the US Federal Reserve's dire forecast at its two-day policy meeting which finished on Wednesday, pushed world stocks to 13-month lows as investors shed risky assets from portfolios and scurried to safer havens.

Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures stabilized and were trading up 0.7 percent, though Asian stock markets looked set to extend their weakness with South Korea's KOSPI off 3.3 percent in early trading.

With Japanese markets shut on Friday for a public holiday, traders said investors looking to raise cash might do so by selling shares in Hong Kong, putting further pressure on the Hang Seng which has already lost 8 percent this week and is at a 26-month low.

Earlier on Thursday the Dow Jones industrial average dropped 391.01 points, or 3.51 percent, to 10,733.83. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index lost 37.20 points, or 3.19 percent, to 1,129.56. The Nasdaq Composite Index slid 82.52 points, or 3.25 percent, to 2,455.67.I

Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex lost over 200 points today

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex lost over 200 points in early trade today in line with their Asian peers as prospects of a global recession continues to unnerve investors.

The 30-share index, which lost 704 points in yesterday's session, fell by 201 points to 16,159.20 in earlier trade today. The wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index also plunged by 59 points to 4,864.43.

Brokers attributed the widespread losses to a massive sell-off by funds, influenced by the weak trend in global markets after the US Federal Reserve warned of significant downside risks to the American economy.

Alarm about the risk of another economic down turn, after the US Federal Reserve's dire forecast at its two-day policy meeting which finished on Wednesday, pushed world stocks to 13-month lows as investors shed risky assets from portfolios and scurried to safer havens.

Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures stabilized and were trading up 0.7 percent, though Asian stock markets looked set to extend their weakness with South Korea's KOSPI off 3.3 percent in early trading.

With Japanese markets shut on Friday for a public holiday, traders said investors looking to raise cash might do so by selling shares in Hong Kong, putting further pressure on the Hang Seng which has already lost 8 percent this week and is at a 26-month low.

Earlier on Thursday the Dow Jones industrial average dropped 391.01 points, or 3.51 percent, to 10,733.83. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index lost 37.20 points, or 3.19 percent, to 1,129.56. The Nasdaq Composite Index slid 82.52 points, or 3.25 percent, to 2,455.67.I

Indian stocks Market :BSE Sensex: Nifty

The Indian stocks continue to be under tremendous selling pressure in late morning trade, as investors continue to flee risky assets like equities and commodities in the wake of the S&P's decision to downgrade US' "AAA" rating by one notch.

All the sectoral indices were in the red and the benchmarks slipped to crucial support levels."The S&P on Friday downgraded the long-term debt rating of the US from AAA to AA+ and continued with its negative outlook. This could lead to some immediate turbulence in financial markets, however, investors are likely to focus on 'relative' ratings in their investment decisions.

The BSE Sensex is down more than 450 points while the NSE Nifty remains below the 5,100 mark.

The BSE Sensex was trading at 16,848, down 457 points or 2.65% over the last close. It had touched the day's high at 16,907 and day's low at 16,759 with the opening of Rs. 16,907.

The NSE Nifty on the other hand was quoting 5,075, down 135 points or 2.61% after touching a high of 5,096 and a low of 5,054.

The IT index on the BSE is down more than 5% amid concerns that a weakening economic landscape in the US and Europe will hit their earnings, which are closely  linked to these markets.

The ADAG pack is also being pummeled out of shape, led by heavy losses in Reliance Power, RCOM, Reliance Infrastructure and Reliance  Capital after the BSE removed RCOM and Reliance Infra from the Sensex effective today.