Big bets shifted from index to mid cap stocks as was the trend in the last few days. Select stocks from the infra, real estate and banking space continued their breathtaking rally. IFCI gained a staggering 11 per cent in trade, while Torrent Power was up 13 per cent and Indiabulls Power was up 10 per cent.

Infra stocks continued their run with Gammon Infrastructure projects up 4 per cent and IRB Infra ending the day up 1 per cent.

PSU banking stocks which had rallied in the last few trading sessions ended the day mixed with Canara Bank and State Bank of India dropping, while IDBI Bank and Oriental Bank gained ground.

Private sector banking stocks like ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank ended the day marginally lower. Punj Lloyd lost heavy ground in trade after the company's performance did not match expectations and losses widened.

ONGC ended lower despite reports that ONGC Videsh was likely to bid for oil & gas block in Tanzania. IL&FS Transportation rallied ahead of its rights closure and on investor interest in infrastructure and capital goods stocks.

Meanwhile, markets in Europe were trading marginally higher, while most of Asia ended the day with losses. The German DAX, the French CAC and the UK's FTSE were all trading with gains.

GoodReturns.in