Sensex up 2.22 percent

Shortly after noon Wednesday, a benchmark index of the Indian equities markets was 2.22 percent higher than its previous close, with blue chip stocks like Infosys and Reliance Industries gaining significantly.

These stocks with higher weightage on the index had lost heavily Tuesday, pulling down the benchmark measure.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened higher at 15,487.97 points, was at 15,746.54 points, 2.22 percent or 341.6 points higher, at 12.29 p.m.

It had lost 491.34 points or 3.09 percent Tuesday to close at 15,404.94 points.

Around the same time, the S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was similarly in the positive terrain at 4,658.05 points, up 2.06 percent from its last close.

Broader market indices were similarly on the rise, with the BSE midcap index 1.96 percent up, and the BSE small cap index was trading 1.12 percent higher.

The market breadth was positive, with 1,394 stocks advancing, 999 declining and 58 remaining unchanged.

The Reliance Industries scrip was up 4.1 percent, while Infosys stock was trading 4.57 percent higher.

Among the other gainers this time on the Sensex were Jaiprakash Associates, up 6.12 percent; DLF, up 4.59 percent; Infosys, up 4.34 percent and Hindalco, up 4.21 percent.

Among the major losers were Tata Power, down 2.52 percent; Grasim, down 1.59 percent; Sun Pharma, down 1.37 percent and BHEL, down 0.67 percent.

Other Asian markets were in the green as well.

The primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Hang Seng, was 341 points or 1.61 percent higher at 21,581.06 points.

The Kospi, benchmark index of the Korean Stock Exchange, was ruling at 1,579.93 points, up 30.01 points or 1.94 percent.

The Nikkei, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed 41.36 points or 0.42 percent higher at 9,844.31 points.

The Shanghai Stock Exchange composite index was also trading higher at 3,122.45 points, up 0.26 percent.

Last updated on Nov 4^th, 2009 at 13:23 pm IST--IANS