Metal, auto stocks drive markets

Metal sector stocks were among the most actively traded stocks on Friday, followed by auto sector stocks. The S&P BSE Metal was at 13794.07 points, up 1.59 per cent, while the Nifty Metal index was at 3,651.85 points, up 1.58 per cent.

Metal major SAIL was trading higher by more than  3 per cent on the buzz that a long pending joint venture between global steel major Arcelor-Mittal and SAIL might see the light of the day soon. Sail was trading at Rs. 81.15 per share, up 3.11 per cent, National Aluminium was at Rs. 78.85 per share, up 2.01 per cent. Major metal stocks including Vedanta, Hindalco was up close to 2 per cent, while Jindal Steel, NMDC, Hindustan Zinc were trading higher by more than 1 per cent. Tata Steel and Coal India were also trading in the green.

Auto sector stocks were also buzzing. The Nifty Auto index was up 1.36 per cent. With auto majors including Maruti trading at Rs. 9,115.00 per share, higher by 2.62 per cent, Tata Motors was at Rs. 409.70 per share, up 1.92 per cent, Ashok Leyland was at Rs. 118.85 per share, up 1.67 per cent, while component supplier including Motherson Sumi was trading at  Rs. 373.75 per share, up 1.65 per cent, Exide was at Rs. 205.25 per share, up 1.61 per cent.

Meanwhile, the benchmark indices, BSE Sensex was at 33,208.27 points, up 259.06 points or 0.79 per cent, while 10,250.50 points, up 83.80 points or 0.82 per cent during the morning session on Friday.