Market ends in green: Banks up; Midcap, metal down

24 March 2008

It was a mixed close for markets with benchmark indices managing a positive close but the midcap and smallcap index closing in red. buying seen in select largecap IT and bank stocks. Breadth was negative and the advance:decline was at 1:6. Nifty closed above 4600 and Sensex closed above 15300. BSE Midcap and smallcap index were down over 3.5%.

Sensex closed up 294.57 points or 1.96% at 15289.40, and the Nifty up 35.90 points or 0.78% at 4609.85.

About 678 shares have advanced, 2329 shares declined, and 53 shares are unchanged.

The BSE Midcap Index ended at 5,805.53 down 2.7%.

The BSE Smallcap Index ended at 6,950.12 down 3.7%.

The BSE Bankex closed at 7,785.05 up 3%. ICICI Bank, HDFC, HDFC Bank, Centurion bank, Axis, IOB closed in green.