Sensex advances 250 points as June F&O series kicks in

Mumbai: The BSE Sensex advanced 250 points in late morning trade on renewed buying, mainly in technology, healthcare, oil & gas, realty and capital goods sectors, following the beginning of June F&O series amid firm Asian cues. The market breadth indicated that the overall health of the market was strong.

The 30-share Sensex resumed higher at 27,553.03 and hovered in a range of 27,779.93 and 27,467.23 before quoting at 27,802.65 at 1123 hours, a rise of 295.94 points, or 1.08 per cent, from its last close. The NSE Nifty also quoted higher by 88.35 points, or 1.06 per cent, at 8,407.35 at 1123 hours. Major gainers were Bharti Airtel (3.33 per cent), Coal India (2.32 per cent) and Cipla (2.02 per cent).

Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors net sold shares worth Rs 792.54 crore and domestic institutional investors (DIIs) net bought shares worth Rs 683.29 crore yesterday, according to provisional exchange data. Overseas, Asian stocks edged higher in early trade. Key indices in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea were up 0.02-0.28 per cent.

Indices in Singapore and Indonesia were down 0.19-0.57 per cent. In New York, US stocks edged lower yesterday as the deadlocked Greece debt talks weighed on investor sentiment.