Top gainers were Reliance Comm up 9.60 percent, Rel Capital up 3.76 percent, Ambuja Cements up 3.01 percent and SAIL up 2.54 percent.

Top losers were Cairn India down 2.69 percent, Sun Pharma down 1.99 percent, Cipla down 1.92 percent and BPCL down 1.83 percent.

At 4:30 pm, the BSE Sensex was at 18,469.95 up 30.30 points and NSE Nifty was at 5,531.00 up 10.20 points.
4:35PM

Nifty looming around 5500-5540 range

The benchmark Nifty was hovering around the range of 5500-5540, following quiet Asian cues. One of the most worrying factor in the international market was crude oil that was closely watched. Brent crude oil stabilised around USD 113 a barrel, after dropping from USD 115 a barrel and crude was looming around USD 104-105 a barrel.

Top gainers were Reliance Comm up 10.15 percent, Rel Capital up by 3.60 percent, Ambuja Cements up by 3.17 percent and SAIL up by 2.44 percent.

At 3:15 pm, the BSE Sensex was at 18,501.74 up 62.09 points and NSE Nifty was at 5,530.90 up 10.10 points.
3:15PM

Sensex climbs by over 143 points

The Sensex climbed by over 143 points in opening trade on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Wednesday, Mar 9 amid a firming trend on Asian bourses and easing political concerns.

The Sensex, which gained 216.98 points in the previous session, moved up by 143.65 points, or 0.77 per cent, to 18,583.30 in opening trade today, with banking, realty, metal and capital goods sector stocks leading the rise.

Similarly, the broad-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index gained 42.50 points, or 0.76 per cent, to 5,563.30 points.
10:00AM