The markets closed in green amid choppiness on the triple withching day also known as F&O expiry day. FMCG, metal, oil and power stocks are trading higher while auto and pharma stocks are under selling pressure. Midcap and small cap stocks have continued their upside momentum giving market positive breadth.

Markets choppy: Bharti, Bajaj Auto down

The markets have slipped and are trading flat amid choppiness on the F&O expiry day.  It is a bit choppy as today is the triple witching day and we are stepping into the new series from tomorrow. FMCG, metal, oil and power stocks are trading higher while auto and pharma stocks are under selling pressure. Midcap and small cap stocks have continued their upside momentum.

Mkts trading higher: FMCG, metal, oil, power stocks up

The markets turned into positive terrain and trading higher, after witnessing mixed trend since morning, on the back of positive cues from European markets. FMCG, metal, oil and power stocks are trading higher while auto and pharma stocks are under selling pressure. Midcap and small cap stocks have continued their upside momentum.

At 2:02 pm, the Sensex was up 78 points at 20270, and the Nifty up 22 points at 6092. About 2240 shares have advanced, 803 shares declined, and 57 shares are unchanged.

The BSE Midcap and Small Cap indices were up 0.66% and 2.3%, respectively.

Top gainers on the bourses were ITC, Reliance Energy, Hindalco, Nalco and Suzlon Energy while losers were Bajaj Auto, Bharti Airtel, Reliance Comm, PNB and Sun Pharma.

Essar Oil, Reliance Industries, Reliance Energy and Orchid Chemicals were most active shares.

The BSE FMCG Index rose 1.7% and Metal Index was up 1.06%. BSE Bankex, Capital Goods, IT, Oil & Gas and Power indices were up 0.4%-0.8%.

Markets lacklustre: Hindalco, HDFC Bank, ITC up

The markets continue to trade flat amid chopiness on the triple withching day also known as F&O expiry day. Select aluminium, bank and FMCG stocks are trading firm followed by oil & gas and power stocks. However, selling pressure is seen in IT and pharma stocks. The cues from Asia were mixed, rather quiet with Nikkei and Hang Seng in red and others in green.

In the F&O segment marketwide rollover was at 74% and Nifty rollover was at 73%.

At 12.55 hrs IST, the Sensex is up 50.10 points or 0.25% at 20242.62, and the Nifty up 11.45 points or 0.19% at 6082.20.

About 2256 shares have advanced, 796 shares declined, and 47 shares are unchanged.

Nalco is the top performer up over 9% followed by Hindalco and ITC up over 2%.

Other gainers were ICICI Bank, Tata Power, SAIL, ONGC, VSNL, Reliance Petroleum, NTPC, Wipro, Suzlon Energy, Reliance, Reliance Energy, Idea Cellular.

Telecom auto and pharma stocks are trading weak. Bharti, Bajaj Auto, PNB and Reliance Communication are among the major losers.BPCL, Cairn India, GAIL, DLF and Bajaj Auto.

Raymond, Adani, RCF were among the midcap gainers.

BSE Midcap index is up 1% and the smallcap index is up 2%. BSE bank and metal index are up 1% followed by power and oil & gas up nearly 1%. Sugar stocks are looking strong today.

Market trades flat: Bank, metal, oil stocks up

The markets have given up most of their morning gains and are trading absolutely flat. Buying is seen in select bank, metal, oil & gas and power stocks. However, selling pressure is seen in IT and pharma stocks. It is a bit choppy as today is the triple witching day and we are stepping into the new series from tomorrow. The cues from Asia were mixed, rather quiet with Nikkei and Hang Seng in red and others in green.

At 11.30 hrs IST, the Sensex is up 25.33 points or 0.13% at 20217.85, and the Nifty up 6.50 points or 0.11% at 6077.25.

About 2276 shares have advanced, 768 shares declined, and 55 shares are unchanged.

BSE Midcap index is up 0.6% and the smallcap index is up 1.6%. BSE bank and metal index are up 1% followed by power and oil & gas up nearly 1%. Sugar stocks are looking strong today.

Hindalco and Nalco are the top performers up over 2%. HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Tata Steel are also among the top gainers. HDFC Bank, Tata Power and SAIL were up 1.5% each. ICICI Bank and Tata Steel were 1% up each.

Other gainers were ONGC, VSNL, Reliance Petroleum, NTPC, Wipro, Suzlon Energy, Reliance, Reliance Energy, Idea Cellular.

IT stocks like Infosys, Satyam are looking a bit soft along with BPCL, Cairn India, GAIL, Reliance Communication, DLF and Bajaj Auto.

Reliance Petro, Essar Oil, Era Construction, SAIL and Reliance are among the most active stocks on the bourses.

Market off opening highs: Midcap, smallcap outperform

The markets are still in green but are off the opening high. It is a bit choppy as today is the triple witching day and we are stepping into the new series from tomorrow. The cues from Asia were mixed, rather quiet with Nikkei and Hang Seng in red and others in green. Midcap space is looking strong giving market healthy breadth.

At 10.27 hrs IST, the Sensex is up 73.55 points or 0.36% at 20266.07, and the Nifty up 20.40 points or 0.34% at 6091.15.

About 2380 shares have advanced, 665 shares declined, and 54 shares are unchanged.

BSE Midcap index is up 1% and the smallcap index is up 1.6%. BSE bank and metal index are up 1% followed by power and oil & gas up nearly 1%. Sugar stocks are looking strong today.

HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Tata Steel are among the top gainers. HDFC Bank, Tata Power and SAIL were up 1.5% each. ICICI Bank and Tata Steel were 1% up each.

Other gainers were ONGC, VSNL, Reliance Petroleum, NTPC, Wipro, Suzlon Energy, Reliance, Reliance Energy, Idea Cellular.

IT stocks like Infosys, Satyam are looking a bit soft along with BPCL and Bajaj Auto.

Reliance Petro, Essar Oil, Era Construction, SAIL and Reliance are among the most active stocks on the bourses.

Market opens in green: Nifty breaches 6,100

The markets opened in green with Nifty breaching 6,100 levels and Sensex was above 20,300. The markets had two strong sessions and we have seen a further build up on the gains that they made. The cues from Asia were mixed, rather quiet with Nikkei and Hang Seng in red and others in green. Midcap space is looking strong giving market healthy breadth.

Major gainers on the indices were  ONGC, VSNL, Reliance Petroleum, NTPC, Wipro, Suzlon Energy, Reliance, Reliance Energy, Idea Cellular, SAIL.

IT stocks like Infosys, TCS are looking a bit soft.

Rupee is trading at 39.4250 against the dollar

Asian markets were trading higher barring Japan's Nikkei Index. The Nikkei 225 average dropped 0.53% or 83.25 points to 15,570.29, after advancing during the last three trading sessions.

However, Shanghai Composite was up 0.66% or 34.30 points at 5,267.65. Hong Kong's Hang Seng down 24 points. Jakarta Composite was up 0.72% or 19.54 points at 2,734.09. Straits Times rose 0.11% or 3.7 points to 3,476.91. Seoul Composite gained 4.96 points or 0.26% to 1,911.68 and Taiwan Weighted jumped 170.04 points or 2.08% at 8,326.43.

Market cues:

• FIIs net buy USD 41.5 million in equity on December 24
• Domestic MFs net buy Rs 830 crore on December 24
• NSE F&O OI up by Rs 4988 crore at Rs 1.23 lakh crore

NSE F&O cues

• Marketwide rollover at 66%, Nifty rollover at 75%
• Futures OI up Rs 4,032 cr, Options OI up Rs 956 cr
• Nifty Dec sheds 45 lakh shares in Open Interest
• Nifty Jan adds 60 lakh shares in Open Interest
• Nifty Open Int PCR at 1.33 Vs 1.22
• Nifty Puts add 15.6 lakh shares in Open Interest
• Nifty Call Open Interest unchanged
• Nifty 5900 Put adds 3.8 lakh shares in Open Interest
• Nifty 6100 Put adds 3 lakh shares in Open Interest
• Nifty 6200 Call adds 1.48 lakh shares in Open Interest