Nifty ends at highest level this year, autos lead

Markets gained momentum in the afternoon session this Thursday after country’s industrial output expanded, however, investors preferred to remain on the side lines ahead of April inflation data scheduled next week. The Sensex finally ended up 143 points at 20,083.

Nifty ended up 45 points at 6,095.

India's industrial production growth rose at a pace of 2.5 per cent in March, after its moderate growth of 0.6 per cent in February 2013.

The Index of Industrial production had registered a growth rate of 2.4 per cent in January 2013.

The cumulative growth in the April 2012-March 2013 period was 1 per cent, according to the data released by the Central Statistical Office, Ministry Of Statistics And Programme Implementation on Friday.

The next crucial trigger for the markets will be the inflation data on Monday. Meanwhile, global risk appetite was mixed as investors took a breather from recent rallies overnight.

Japanese shares climbed to a 5-1/2 year high on Friday as the U.S. dollar broke through the elusive 100-yen mark and extended its gains, with exporters and financials leading the charge on prospects of enhanced corporate earnings.

The benchmark Nikkei share average rose 2.9 percent to 14,607.54, the highest closing level since early January 2008 and surpassed the settlement price of a swathe of May options set on Friday morning at 14,601.95.

Back home, BSE mid and small cap indices underperformed the benchmark index. The indices were up 0.2% each.

BSE auto index added 2.2% at 11,264. Consumer durables, Bankex and FMCG indices were up 1-2%

each.

Weakness in metal names took the BSE metal index down marginally, mirroring cues from the London Metal Exchange. The index ended down 0.2% at 8,785.

Maruti Suzuki India moved higher by 4% to Rs 1,726 after the Japanese yen hit a fresh four-year low against the dollar.

Other auto shares also gained smartly. Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Bajaj Auto were up 1-3% each.

Car sales fell for the sixth month in a row in April, the longest stretch of decline since industry body SIAM started collating data in 1997-1998, as weak consumer sentiments, high interest costs and other macro-economic factors continued to hurt demand.

Dr Reddy's, Hindalco, HDFC Bank and ITC were among the key gainers.

NTPC today posted a net profit of Rs 1,25,907.80 million for the year ended March 31, 2013 compared to Rs 98,127.90 million in the previous year, a 28.31%% increase.

Total income of the company increased 5.4% from Rs 6,88,424.80 million for the year to Rs 7,25,407.90 million. Shares of NTPC were down 1% at Rs 155.

Meanwhile, Coal India slipped 3% at Rs 300. Jindal Steel, Sun Pharma, Cipla and Reliance shed 1-2% each.

IT hardware company HCL Infosystems today reported a standalone net loss of Rs 14.96 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 against a net profit of Rs 20.02 crore in the year-ago period. HCL Info was down 3.8% at Rs 36.

BSE market breadth remained neutral. Out of 1,775 stocks traded, 885 stocks declined while 821 stocks advanced.