Sensex ends up 104pts

The Sensex has ended (provisional) at 17,098, up 104 points. The NSE Nifty has ended (provisional) at 5,121, up 32 points. The markets have given up some of their gains in the afternoon session. The Sensex is now quoting at 17,110, up 115 points, and the Nifty is at 5,117, up 28 points. The auto sector continues to grow in strength and is now up nearly 2%, while the metal and PSU space is showing signs of weakness. Among the Sensex-30 stocks, Mahindra & Mahindra has soared 4.6% to Rs 1125, Hero Honda has strengthened 3.3% at Rs 1919 and ITC has hardened by 2.3% at Rs 250. ICICI Bank, Sun Pharma and Jaiprakash Associates are the other major gainers. And index heavyweight Reliance is trading flat, with a positive bias, at Rs 1010. On the other hand, Bharti Airtel has declined 1.8% to Rs 292, Reliance Infra has weakened 1.3% at Rs 1020 and Hindalco has shed 1.2% at Rs 166. The market breadth has turned weak. out of 2910 shares traded on the BSE, there are 1747 advancing stocks as against 1066 declines.