Sensex rises over 150 points in early trade

Mumbai: The benchmark BSE Sensex reclaimed the 35,000-mark by surging over 150 points in early trade today on easing geopolitical concerns and a sharp correction in global crude prices.

An appreciating rupee, encouraging earnings by some more companies and easing concerns over US-North Korea summit too boosted investor sentiment.

The 30-share index, which had gained 579.96 points in the previous two sessions, added 156.67 points, or 0.44 per cent, at 35,081.54.

The rupee strengthened by 39 paise to 67.39 against the dollar at the interbank forex market in early trade today.

Counters such as oil and gas, PSU, healthcare, realty, infrastructure, metal and banking were trading in the positive territory.

The NSE Nifty too edged up by 53.70 points, or 0.50 per cent, to 10,658.85.

Sun Pharma shares rose 4.66 per cent to Rs 488.30 after the drug maker on Friday posted 6.96 per cent increase in its consolidated net profit at Rs 1,308.96 crore for the



fourth quarter ended March 2018.

Other major gainers that supported the indices were Yes Bank, SBI, Tata Steel, Axis Bank, Coal India, ONGC, NTPC, Maruti Suzuki, Asian Paint, HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, Dr Reddy's, Bajaj Auto and ITC, rising by up to 1.59 per cent.

Traders said building of fresh long positions amid continued buying by domestic institutional investors (DIIs) and Brent crude falling by 1.88 per cent to USD 75 per barrel in global markets, kept the bullish sentiment intact.

Meanwhile, on Friday, DIIs bought shares worth a net of Rs 887.76 crore, while foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 768.29 crore, provisional data showed.

Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.47 per cent, Japan's Nikkei up 0.15 per cent in early trade today. Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.18 per cent 

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.24 per cent lower in Friday's trade.