Indian benchmarks continued to trade higher during the noon trading session amid mixed global cues. In the broader markets, the Nifty MidCap index is flat and the Nifty SmallCap index is lower by 0.2 per cent.
Among key shares, GAIL (India) share price dropped around 6 per cent in the intraday trade on Friday. GAIL stock hit a low of ₹171.8 per share on the BSE.
Meanwhile, Lemon Tree Hotels shares rose 3.5 per cent on the BSE, logging an intra-day high at ₹159.85 per share after the company announced the signing of two new properties - Lemon Tree Hotel, Surat Airport and Keys Prima by Lemon Tree Hotels, Haridwar.
At 10:46 hours, the 30-share benchmark index was trading at 85969.89 up by 249.51 points or by 0.29 % and then NSE Nifty was at 26250.75 up by 35.2 points or by 0.13 %.
The BSE Sensex touched intraday high of 85969.89 and intraday low of 85577.82 The NSE Nifty touched intraday high of 26267.8 and intraday low of 26172.40.
The top gainers of the BSE Sensex pack were Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 3752.75,+1.93%), Bajaj Finance Ltd. (Rs. 1041.30,+0.74%), Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (Rs. 2125.00,+0.73%), State Bank of India (Rs. 979.95,+0.73%), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (Rs. 1520.75,+0.72%), among others.
The top losers of the BSE Sensex pack were Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (Rs. 270.95,-1.00%), Axis Bank Ltd. (Rs. 1279.65,-0.60%), Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd. (Rs. 356.15,-0.50%), NTPC Ltd. (Rs. 325.65,-0.47%), Bharti Airtel Ltd. (Rs. 2106.95,-0.43%), among others.
Among the sectors, BSE Metal index was at 34204.26 up by 170.15 points or by 0.5%. Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (Rs. 483.65,+1.97%), Vedanta Ltd. (Rs. 524.45,+1.05%), Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Rs. 811.15,+0.48%), Jindal Steel Ltd. (Rs. 1044.20,+0.37%), National Aluminium Company Ltd. (Rs. 262.10,+0.31%),.
On the flip side, BSE Power index was at 6622.72 down by -28.06 points or by -0.42%. Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (Rs. 271.00,-0.99%), Suzlon Energy Ltd. (Rs. 54.44,-0.89%), JSW Energy Ltd. (Rs. 484.15,-0.82%), NTPC Ltd. (Rs. 325.45,-0.53%), NHPC Ltd. (Rs. 76.59,-0.48%),.
The Market breadth, indicating the overall strength of the market, was weak. On BSE out of total shares traded 3984 , shares advanced were 1977 while 1785 shares declined and 222 were unchanged.