The markets ended higher amid a highly volatile session. It was a dramatic day for markets as they opened higher slipped in red but pulled back to touch new highs. Sensex recovered 400 points from the day's low and ended over 150 points higher. It outperformed its Asian peers which ended deep in red. Midcap and smallcaps continued with their blazzing performance giving markets positive breadth.

Sensex, Nifty hit all time high: Bank stocks surge

The markets have not only recovered from the day's low but also hit new highs.  Broader markets have shown considerable strength and both BSE Midcap and smallcap indices are trading with hefty gains. The breath has improved dramatically.

At 2.46 hrs IST, the Sensex was up 207.17 points or 1.02% at 20507.88, and the Nifty up 42.55 points or 0.69% at 6186.90.

About 2009 shares have advanced, 871 shares declined, and 31 shares are unchanged.

Bankex is up almost up 4%; UCO Bank up 20% followed by Allahabad Bank and Axis Bank up 7%, Union Bank up 5.7%, Dena Bank up over 4%, PNB up 2%.

Mkt shows smart recovery: Bankex up over 2%

The markets have shown smart recovery and are off day's low. The frontline indices Sensex and Nifty are trading in green. Broader markets have shown considerable strength and both BSE Midcap and smallcap indices are trading with hefty gains.

Sensex has rallied 300 points from the day's low. The strength can be seen despite weak close in Asia.

At 13.57 pm, the Sensex was up 19.14 points or 0.09% at 20319.85, and the Nifty up 0.40 points or 0.01% at 6144.75.

About 1932 shares have advanced, 940 shares declined, and 34 shares are unchanged.

Bank stocks are buzzing with Bankex up over 2%. UCO Bank up 17% followed by Allahabad Bank up 7%, Union Bank up 5.7%, Dena Bank up over 4%, PNB up 2%.

ONGC, Reliance Energy, PNB, HDFC, ITC, SBI were among the top losers on the indices. SBI and Suzlon Energy are also pulling back in the green.

Sun Pharma, SAIL, HUL, BHEL, M&M, Reliance Communication, NTPC, Tata Power, GAIL, HDFC Bank, and BPCL were among the top frontline losers on the indices.

UCO Bank up 14.69%, followed by Bombay Dyeing, Atlas Copco, Spice Comm, AstraZeneca, Allahabad Bank were among the midcap gainers.

Bajaj Auto came out with disappointing set of sales numbers for the month of December. However Maruti's sales numbers were strong.

Mkts still in red: Midcap, banks up; IT, metal down

The markets are still in red but the broader markets have shown some recovery and BSE Midcap and smallcap indices are back in the green. The cues have not been very encouraging with Asia was ending weak and Taiwan down over 2%. Auto, capital goods, IT, metal and power stocks are among the top losers.

However, bank stocks are buzzing with Bankex up 1.4%. UCO Bank up 17% followed by Allahabad Bank up 7%, Union Bank up 5.7%, Dena Bank up over 4%, PNB up 2%.

At 1.09 pm, the Sensex wasdown 120.46 points or 0.59% at 20180.25, and the Nifty down 41.70 points or 0.68% at 6102.65.

About 1736 shares have advanced, 1134 shares declined, and 35 shares are unchanged.

ONGC, Reliance Energy, PNB, HDFC, ITC, SBI were among the top losers on the indices. SBI and Suzlon Energy are also pulling back in the green.

Sun Pharma, SAIL, HUL, BHEL, M&M, Reliance Communication, NTPC, Tata Power, GAIL, HDFC Bank, and BPCL were among the top frontline losers on the indices.

UCO Bank up 14.69%, followed by Bombay Dyeing, Atlas Copco, Spice Comm, AstraZeneca, Allahabad Bank were among the midcap gainers.

Bajaj Auto came out with disappointing set of sales numbers for the month of December. However Maruti's sales numbers were strong.

Mkts trade weak: Power, auto, metal, IT, cap goods down

The markets are trading weak as selling pressure is seen in index pivotals. Asia is trading extremely weak with Taiwan down over 2%.  The broader markets have given up all their gains. Both BSE Midcap and smallcap index are down in red.

The market breadth is negative in the favour of declines. All the BSE sector indices have slipped in red. Auto, capital goods, IT, metal and power stocks are among the top losers.

ONGC, Reliance Energy, PNB, HDFC, ITC were among the top losers on the indices. SBI and Suzlon Energy are also pulling back in the green.

BHEL, M&M, Reliance Communication, NTPC, Tata Power, GAIL, HDFC Bank, and BPCL were among the top frontline losers on the indices.

UCO Bank up 14.69%, followed by Bombay Dyeing, Atlas Copco, Spice Comm, AstraZeneca, Allahabad Bank were among the midcap gainers.

Bajaj Auto came out with disappointing set of sales numbers for the month of December. However Maruti's sales numbers were strong.

Mkt slips in red: Power, cap goods down; Bank up

The markets have slipped in red on account of selling pressure seen in select power and capital good stocks. However buying is seen in select bank, IT, realty, auto and FMCG stocks. Outperformance can be seen in the broader markets. Both the Midcap and smallcap indices are up over 1% each.

The cues from Asia were not very encouraging as most of the Asia is trading in red.

At 10.39 hrs IST, the Sensex was down 148.29 points or 0.73% at 20152.42, and the Nifty down 65.45 points or 1.07% at 6078.90.

About 1570 shares have advanced, 1274 shares declined, and 46 shares are unchanged.

ITC, TCS, HDFC and Bajaj Auto were among the top gainers on the indices.

BHEL, NTPC, Tata Power, GAIL, HDFC Bank, and BPCL were among the top frontline losers on the indices.

Midcap index was up over 1% and the smallcap index is up nearly 2%, among the gainers were UCO Bank, followed by Centurion BoP, DCB along with Noida Toll Bridge and Hind Motors. Indiabulls Finance up 20% at Rs 859 for the second day running.

Bajaj Auto came out with disappointing set of sales numbers for the month of December. However Maruti's sales numbers were strong.

Market opens in green: Midcaps, smallcaps rally

The markets opened in green despite some muted cues from Asia. The party in the midcap and smallcap space are partying today also. The breadth is positive in the favour of advances. At 10:00 am, Sensex was up 74 points at 230375 and Nifty was at 6171 up 27 points.

Midcap index was up 1%, among the gainers were UCO Bank up 13%, followed by Centurion BoP, DCB along with Noida Toll Bridge and Hind Motors. Indiabulls Finance up 20% at Rs 859 for the second day running.

Infosys, ITC, Rel Energy, BHEL, Rel Ind, NTPC, PNB, Maruti, Tata Power.

Satyam, Wipro, Sun Pharma, M&M, GSK were among the losers

Asian markets were trading lower. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.10% or 27.24 points at 27,785.41. Taiwan's Taiwan Weighted plunged 0.23% or 19.79 points at 8,486.49. Singapore's Straits Times declined 0.29% or 10.23 points at 3,472.07. South Korea's Seoul Composite fell 0.49% or 9.30 points at 1,887.83. (Nikkei is shut today)

Market cues:

• FIIs net buy USD 197.8 million in equity
• NSE F&O Open Interest up by Rs 3265 crore at Rs 1.10. lakh crore

F&O cues:

• Futures Open Int up by Rs 2,245 crore, Options Open Int up by Rs 1,020 crore
• Nifty Futures add 7 lakh shares in Open Int, at 12-point premium
• Mini Nifty Futures add 18,000 shares in Open Int, at 10-point premium
• Nifty Open Int Put-Call ratio at 1.29 Vs 1.31
• Nifty Puts add 4.9 lakh shares in Open Int
• Nifty Calls add 5 lakh shares in Open Int
• Nifty 6000 Put, 6100 Put add 1 lakh shares each in Open Int
• Nifty 6400 Call adds 1.3 lakh shares in Open Int
• Nifty 6300 Call adds 1 lakh shares in Open Int
• Stock Futures add 3 cr shares in Open Int